title: Parents' knowledge of and opinions about healthcare laws and technology in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Historically, parents have demonstrated poor understanding of adolescent healthcare laws. This study assessed US parents' current knowledge and opinions about technology facilitated physician-adolescent communication and applicable laws to enhance transition to  adult health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A brief survey in two low-income academic paediatric clinics asked parents about their knowledge of health care and laws, and their opinions about technology facilitated contact between physicians and adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all parents  (96.7%) have internet access at home, work or via a mobile device. Only 44.1% approved of having a physician directly contact their child about annual examinations, immunisations or to discuss issues of sexuality. Half (55.4%) were aware that adolescents could receive confidential sexuality  information and treatment without parents' permission. Only one-third (32.2%) approved of a specific technology for direct communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents are divided about direct physician-adolescent contact. Future plans to engage adolescents to understand their health  will require parental education and involvement on the value of physician-adolescent communication.
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Health Policy and Outcomes, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. lathompson@peds.ufl.edu
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Thompson
authors: Erik W
authors: EW
authors: Black
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Saliba
authors: Anzeela M
authors: AM
authors: Schentrup
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D035622:Parental Notification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012725:Sexual Behavior