title: The perception of adolescent medicine among health care professionals in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to survey a group of Health Care Professionals (HCP) to assess their perception on adolescent health care and the need for dedicated adolescent health care facilities in the country. Cross-sectional, close-ended survey designed and administered to assess several categorical variables, was conducted on 500 HCP selected by a nonrandom quota-based convenience sample. No significant differences were found between different HCP positions with regard to all collected variables. Approximately 90% acknowledged that behavioral issues and health education can affect services. Three-quarters of the respondents were aware that a special division was dedicated to adolescent medicine. Thirty-seven percent recognized adolescent medicine as a pediatric subspecialty and 81% agreed that adolescent reproductive health education and promotion are important. This survey showed that health care professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a clear perception about the need for specialized adolescent health services. Therefore, provision of adolescent health services should be supported by health policy-makers.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Medicine & General Pediatrics, Pediatrics Department, King Fahad Medical City, Saudi Arabia. al_makadma@hotmail.com
authors.forename: AbdulKarim S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al-Makadma
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Tannir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires