title: The need for control, safety and trust in healthcare: A qualitative study among adolescents and young adults exposed to family violence.
abstract: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) exposed to family violence are in need of professional healthcare. However, only one-third of them seek professional help.
  
  
  
  This study investigates healthcare needs of twelve AYA exposed to family violence. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews using purposive sampling to reach diversity. Open thematic coding was used to identify the most important themes.
  
  
  
  Participants experienced emotional problems, distrusted others and felt unsafe as an important consequence of their exposure to family violence. All participants expressed a need for help, but as help involved informing others, they considered it unsafe. Trust, safety and control regarding healthcare interventions emerged as vital needs. The anonymity of the Internet was considered as offering safeguards in seeking and receiving help.
  
  
  
  Trust, safety and control regarding healthcare interventions emerged as vital needs for AYA exposed to family violence. The great importance of being in control of healthcare interventions has not been reported earlier. A personal bond can lower the need for control.
  
  
  
  To comply with the three basic needs, healthcare providers should grant AYA as much control as possible while still monitoring patient safety. The Internet can be an important resource for offering low-threshold professional and peer support.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Dept. of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: karin.vanrosmalen-nooijens@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Karin A W L
authors.initials: KAWL
authors.lastname: van Rosmalen-Nooijens
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Dept. of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: sylvie.lofowong@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Sylvie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lo Fo Wong
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Dept. of Medical Psychology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: judith.prins@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Judith B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Dept. of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: toine.lagro@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Antoine L M
authors.initials: ALM
authors.lastname: Lagro-Janssen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescence; Control; Domestic violence; E-health; Exposure to violence; Family violence; Healthcare communication; Healthcare needs; Low-threshold care; Patient safety; Professional healthcare; Trust; Young adulthood