Preventive health counseling for adolescents.
The leading causes of adolescent mortality are accidents (death from unintentional injury), homicide, and suicide. Additional morbidity is related to drug, tobacco, and alcohol use; risky sexual behaviors; poor nutrition; and inadequate physical activity. One third of adolescents engage in at least one of these high-risk behaviors. Physicians should specifically target these risk factors with preventive counseling, although adolescents may be reluctant to initiate discussions about risky behaviors because of confidentiality concerns. The key to providing relevant and useful preventive counseling for adolescent patients is developing the trust necessary to discuss the specific issues that impact this age group.
Stephens
Mark B
MB
US Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, USA. mstephens@usuhs.mil
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011314:Preventive Health Services