title: World peace, to be a millionaire, and hoop dreams: adolescent wishes on health screening surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to learn the wishes of young adolescents via an open-ended survey question and to determine the association of these wishes with sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study of consecutive adolescents aged 11-14 years who had a well-child visit at a clinic with a diverse patient population, who completed a Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) previsit health questionnaire, and who answered the question, "If you could have three wishes come true, what would they be?" Responses to this question were double-coded according to thematic content and whether wishes were for self, others, or both.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 96 respondents, wishes for others were listed more frequently by girls than by boys (54% versus 31%; P = .02). Girls also had more family-oriented wish themes (27% versus 10%; P = .04). Boys were more likely to wish for success (17% versus 4%; P = .05). Among respondents with private insurance, 45% wished for the good for the world, with responses such as "world peace"; only 12% of respondents with Medicaid wished for the good of the world (P = .01). No statistically significant differences were identified by race/ethnicity or age. Positive future orientation themes such as career were not as prioritized as previously suggested in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sample population derives from a single university-based clinic in North Carolina; while diverse, this population may not be representative of larger groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many wishes seemed predictable (ie, for wealth, athleticism), but occasionally wishes were poignant and original ("to have papers for my parents to pass the border"); this finding reinforces the value of listening to adolescents' wishes. Both sex and insurance status were related to wish themes. Further research should determine how knowledge of adolescents' wishes can be used to best direct individual care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Josh P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Department of Health Policy and Management, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Asheley Cockrell
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Tamera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coyne-Beasley
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. eliana_perrin@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Eliana M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012923:Social Class