An Integrative Review of the Health Care Needs of Female Adolescents
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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2018, International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
In compliance with national ethical guidelines, the author reports no relationships with business or industry that would pose a conflict of interest.
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Michael G. Jaskiewicz, MSN, FNP, is employed at Cass Family Clinic in Cassopolis, MI