An Integrative Review of the Health Care Needs of Female Adolescents

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Abstract

Female adolescents have multifaceted health care needs. The needs of adolescent females include addressing sexual activity, substance and tobacco use, psychosocial issues, chronic diseases, and behavior. The purpose of this integrative review is to identify current needs of the female adolescent within a primary care setting. Although some of the issues identified are common to all adolescents, the female adolescent risk is compounded due to additional health risks related to sexual activity. These needs may be best met by an advanced practice nurse who is able to focus time specific to the health care of the adolescent female.

Section snippets

Method

An integrative review was performed; the model of integrative review as developed by Ganong guided this research.24 A search for research articles was conducted using Ovid Journals Full Text, Medline, and CINAHL. Keywords included health care, female, adolescent, health care needs, and primary health care. Studies that took place in specialized settings or outside the United States were excluded. The focus of this review was on the primary care setting and the relationship of the

Results

The 11 articles included in this review contained different methods and sampling. The age of adolescents was not set as a criterion, as it was evident that there were various age ranges utilized within the research of adolescents. The youngest to oldest adolescents within this body of research was 9 to 21 years, respectively.

Five articles utilized a theoretical base and 2 used a medical basis or guideline to direct their research. Eight of the studies used sampling from within a primary care

Discussion

Many resources indicate the primary care needs of adolescents. In addition, there are guidelines available to assist in directing care of this specific population. This guidance includes the female adolescent, but it does not address why the majority of adolescents are only seen for sick visits, and why prenatal care continues to be the number one reason for female health visits.19 With decreasing adolescent pregnancy being one objective in the fight to improve adolescent health, why does

Implications

There continues to be a deficiency in female adolescent well care, screenings, counseling, and provider communication. Several research articles attribute this to adolescent/provider gender differences and a lack in provider training.3, 22, 36 Studies have also shown that nurse practitioners feel comfortable in their training on the screening/counseling process and they are more frequently providing the screening/counseling service.22, 23, 36 Practically, provider training and time makes more

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  • In compliance with national ethical guidelines, the author reports no relationships with business or industry that would pose a conflict of interest.

    1

    Michael G. Jaskiewicz, MSN, FNP, is employed at Cass Family Clinic in Cassopolis, MI

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