[Multidimensional assessment of public health care services for adolescents in Chile].
BACKGROUND
Adolescents are an especially vulnerable age group in terms of behavioral issues and require skilled teams in health centers.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of health services provided to teenage users in Primary Health Care.


METHODS
A study of multiple cases was carried out in two family health centers in Puente Alto, Chile. Health services delivered to adolescents were evaluated from the provider's perspective, through qualitative design of focus groups and interviews to the care teams at each centre. For technical quality, comparing electronic records of two tracer conditions (prenatal care and depression) with technical standards established by Delphi methodology and from teenage users perspective, through a survey of service satisfaction.


RESULTS
In both centers, providers perceived a lack of training in adolescent care, a deficient preventive approach and a limited access to care. The technical evaluation showed an inappropriate recording of both tracer conditions. The instrument used to assess user satisfaction survey was reliable and showed that the best perceived issue was medical care and treatment, and the least perceived, was the access to the services.


CONCLUSIONS
Professionals working in these health care facilities, feel unprepared to provide comprehensive approach to adolescents. The surveyed teenagers complained of limited access to care. Therefore this age group continues to be as a non-priority group for health care.
Departamento de Medicina Familiar, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. catawdt@gmail.com
Catalina de T
Cde T
Williams
Fernando A
FA
Poblete
Francisca A
FA
Baldrich
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002677:Chile; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population