What topics do teens want to discuss with their health care providers? And what do parents wish their teens would talk about with doctors?
Surprisingly, the top five subjects on both lists are the same. They are:
- Diet/nutrition
- Exercise/Sports
- Substance Abuse/Alcohol/Drugs
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Physical Changes in Puberty
According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, by senior year in high school approximately 60 percent of adolescents have tried alcohol, 50 percent used an illegal drug, 30 percent smoked a cigarette and 20 percent used a prescription drug for a nonmedical reason.
However, only 35 percent of adolescents reported discussing substance use with their health care provider, although many more reported wanting to talk.
Why don’t teens discuss health issues that concern them with their medical professionals? One answer may be because their parent is in the room.
As parents, you can increase the likelihood of your adolescents having an honest talk with their doctors by allowing them to have some private time during clinical visits.
Prepare your teen for doctor visits by inviting him or her to think of and put in their phone any questions they would like to ask during the visit. This teaches them to advocate for their own health and allows time for discussion of sensitive topics.
You may read more about adolescent health at the Iowa Department of Public Health website.
Ann Cochran is health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
