Poster AbstractBarriers, Expectations, and Needs of Young Women During Transition From Pediatric to Adult Gynecologic Care
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Background
Providing integrated services and adolescent-friendly initiatives predicts health care providers’ abilities to attract and retain young adult patients. In order to provide patient-centred care to emerging adult women, physicians need to be aware of their needs, desires, and barriers to receiving healthcare. The objective of this study is to assess the needs and barriers of women aged 17 to 25 attending the Young Women’s Gynecology Clinic (YWGC), some of whom are transitioning from pediatric
Methods
A needs assessment of YWGC patients was conducted by distributing anonymous exit surveys to consecutive patients who attended the clinic between January and March 2014. Questions allowed multiple answers and assessed pre-and post-visit expectations, barriers to attending the clinic, desires regarding their healthcare, and demographic information. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the results. Hospital research ethics board approval was attained.
Results
Forty patients (mean age 20.4 years) completed the survey after their appointments; a response rate of 65.6%. More than half reside with parents. 67.5% attend school and/or are employed (62.5%). Twenty-four patients (60.0%) attended their appointment unaccompanied. Of those who were accompanied, 62.5% brought their mother, 31.3% a significant other. The majority (62.5%) used transit to access the clinic and preferred later afternoon weekday appointments. While telephone communication was
Conclusions
As young women transition to adult gynecological care, we observe patient independence in unaccompanied appointments and desires for greater control over decision-making. Gynecology appointments are a source of anxiety, which suggests that changes to pre-appointment preparations and communications could improve patient experience. Clinics designed for emerging adult women should take into account location (public transit accessibility), preferences for later afternoon appointments, with