Research Explains Why Confidential Health Check-up is Better for Adolescents

Many teens openly talk about health issues, personal life and reproductive health with their doctors when they are not accompanied by parents, according to a study.

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis surveyed 500 people aged between 13 and 17 and almost 504 parents with teenaged children between December 2012 and January 2013. They found less than 50 percent of teens received private counseling and confidential healthcare consultation.  When the checks ups were sought in the absence of parents and guardians, many teens reported openly expressing their concerns on eight out of 11 topics related to health. They talked about nutrition, sexual behavior, smoking, drinking, intake of drugs, exercise and mental distress.

However, confidentiality had no impact on teens' level of comfort in discussing about body weight, vaccines or family disturbances. It was observed teens addressed majority of health-related topics when the consultation was partly confidential or when they were accompanied by a parent.

"There is substantial evidence that adolescents get better care when a [health care] visit is confidential, especially in regard to certain topics, such as reproductive health care. think that's a very meaningful finding because it suggests that a split-visit arrangement where part of the visit is confidential and where the parent is in the room for the part of the time is most ideal," said Amy Gilbert, study author and researcher at the department of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine in a news release.

The authors urge parents to give privacy to their children so that they can talk about any topic with health professional and doctors during health checkup sessions. Teenagers and children of prepubescent age have many questions on behaviors and tendencies that are typical at their age. These private counseling sessions allow them freedom and comfort to learn and prevent sexually transmitted diseases, suicides and anything that may pose a threat to their health and well being.

"Most importantly, as a parent you have to develop a relationship with your child. You should be checking in with your kid. It shouldn't be at that once-a-year sports physical where the parent suddenly realizes there's a problem," said Cora Breuner, coauthor and pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital.

More information is available online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.