Pediatricians' role and practices regarding provision of guidance about sexual risk reduction to parents.
A randomly selected nationally representative sample of 508 practicing pediatricians was surveyed in order to identify factors associated with physician delivery of primary prevention to parents about sexual risk reduction (SRR). A full 86% (n = 435) reported that provision of SRR guidance is equally or more important than other guidance provided to parents. Among the 435, only 121 (28%) provided SRR guidance to >75% of parents of their adolescent patients. Multivariate analyses revealed barriers of: lack of training, lack of request from parents, and awkwardness. To promote parent-child communication, physicians suggested high-quality brochures for parents (84%); a list of resources (74%); and tools to facilitate parent-child discussions (63%). Pediatricians and parents are important components of sexual risk prevention efforts for adolescents. Editors' Strategic Implications: The findings related to the perceived importance-but infrequent delivery-of SRR communication between pediatricians and parents of adolescents have implications for training and information dissemination in pediatric practices, as well as other health and reproductive health settings.
Miller
Kim S
KS
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention-SE, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA. kmiller@cdc.gov
Wyckoff
Sarah C
SC
Lin
Carol Y
CY
Whitaker
Daniel J
DJ
Sukalac
Thomas
T
Fowler
Mary Glenn
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires