Adolescents' preferences for primary care provider interactions.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescents receive less primary care than other age groups. One reason may be the negative ways that providers sometimes interact with adolescents. The purpose was to develop knowledge regarding adolescents' preferences for provider interactions.


METHODS
Design was descriptive and mixed method. Donabedian's healthcare quality model guided the study. Data were collected via focus groups and a survey.


RESULTS
Twenty-four adolescents participated. Four themes described their preferences: forming a relationship, supporting independence, assuring confidentiality, and conveying caring.


CONCLUSIONS
Care that is congruent with adolescents' preferences may improve quality of, and access to, care and, ultimately, health outcomes.
Schaeuble
Kristine
K
Cardiology, Children's Hospital and Health System, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Haglund
Kristin
K
Vukovich
Melissa
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D055815:Young Adult