Does screening for and intervening with multiple health compromising behaviours and mental health disorders amongst young people attending primary care improve health outcomes? A systematic review

Prevalence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and intestinal parasites among food handlers working in University of Gondar student's cafeteria, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Food-borne infections continue to be a major public health problem at the international level. The issue becomes more serious in developing countries like Ethiopia.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species and intestinal parasites, as well as antimicrobial resistance patterns and associated factors among food handlers at the University of Gondar cafeteria in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2021 in the University of Gondar cafeterias. Data related to the socio-demographic characteristics and hygienic practices of study participants were collected using structured questionnaires. A total of 290 stool samples were collected from food handlers. Culture and conventional biochemical tests were used to isolate the Salmonella and the Shigella species. Wet mount, Formol-ether concentration, and Kato Katz techniques were applied to identify intestinal parasites. Additionally, drug susceptibility tests were performed using the disk diffusion method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26.

Results

Of 290 food handlers' stool samples analyzed, Twenty-seven 27 (9.3%) were positive for both Salmonella and Shigella species. The prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species was 16 (5.5%) and 11 (3.8%), respectively. Most of the isolated pathogens were resistant to tetracycline 19 (70.4%), and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole 19 (70.4%). The overall rate of multi-drug resistant Shigella and Salmonella isolate was 59.3%. Besides, Fifty-seven 57 (19.7%) of the participants were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. The most prevalent intestinal Parasitosis was E. histolytica/dispar 22 (7.6%), followed by G. lamblia 13 (4.5%), and Ascaris lumbricoides 11 (3.8) not washing hands after using the toilet (AOR: 4.42, 95% CI: 1.57, 10.56), and consuming unpasteurized milk (AOR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.65, 3.96), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of Salmonella, and Shigella infection. Similarly, not washing hands after using the toilet (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.4), and consuming unpasteurized milk (AOR: 10.4, 95% CI: 3.8, 28.8), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites infection.

Conclusion

The prevalence of intestinal parasites, Salmonella, and Shigella species was high. Therefore, it is imperative to implement a public health policy that includes ongoing microbiological surveillance.

Adolescent behavioural risk screening in primary care: physician's point of view

BACKGROUND

Despite regular consultation between adolescents/young adults (AYA) and their physicians, they are not regularly screened for psychosocial risk behaviours. This study examines physicians' self-reported psychosocial risk behaviour screening in AYA. It aims to highlight which elements hinder or improve screening abilities.

METHODOLOGY

The design was a cross-sectional quantitative survey. Data were obtained through a self-reported questionnaire sent out to primary care physicians (PCP) in Switzerland in 2018. The target population consisted of 1,824 PCP (29% response rate). Participants were asked whether they screened youths from 3 age groups [10-14 y/o, 15-20 y/o, and 21-25y/o] for the HEEADSSS items during child well visits and routine checkups. Barriers to screening included primary consultation motive prioritization, insufficient time, patient compliance, reimbursement, lack of skills related to adolescent health, lack of referral options. Data were analysed first through a bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests then through a multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

The majority of physicians partook in preventive screening for 3-5 psychosocial risk elements. They reported the primary consultation motive as well as a lack of available time as having a high impact on their screening habits. Physician's experience and having discussed confidentiality were related to an increase in the number of topics addressed. Confidentiality remained a significant variable throughout all analyses.

CONCLUSION

Barriers such as lack of consultation time and prioritization issues were found by physicians to be critical but did not hinder screening habits. The main element impacting screening habits was assuring confidentiality and the second is self-efficacy.

Psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5) for measuring psychological distress in adolescents

Screening for psychological distress may assist in identifying at-risk adolescents. While several measures of adolescent psychological distress have been used, most have limited or suboptimal psychometric properties. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5), a brief measure of psychological distress, in a large community-based sample of adolescents. Data for the study (n = 3117) were drawn from the baseline and 6-week follow-up assessments of the Future Proofing Study, which collected data from three cohorts of Year 8 students (M = 13.9 years; 48% female) between August 2019 and May 2022. Participants completed the DQ5 at each measurement occasion, as well as measures of depression, generalised and social anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 had good fit to a unidimensional construct, with standardised factor loadings ranging between 0.69 and 0.90. The scale had strong criterion (AUC ranged from 0.84 to 0.93) and predictive (AUC ranged from 0.81 to 0.87) validity when compared against indicators for depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 cut-point of ≥14 had 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity for identifying adolescents meeting symptom thresholds for any of the assessed mental health conditions. Changes in DQ5 scores over 6 weeks had moderate associations with changes in other symptom scales, suggesting sensitivity to change. In conclusion, the DQ5 demonstrates strong psychometric properties and is a reliable measure of psychological distress in adolescents. Given its brevity and ease of interpretation, the DQ5 could be readily used in schools to screen for psychological distress in students.

Integrating testing for sexually transmissible infections into annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

In the context of an expanding syphilis epidemic, we assessed the integration of sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing within annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 16-29years in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services between 2018 and 2020.

METHODS

Using routinely collected electronic medical record data from a national sentinel surveillance system (ATLAS), we performed a cross-sectional analysis to calculate the proportion of assessments that integrated any or all of the tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. We used logistic regression to identify correlates of integration of any STI test.

RESULTS

Of the 13 892 assessments, 23.8% (95% CI 23.1, 24.6) integrated a test for any STI and 11.5% (95% CI 10.9, 12.0) included all four STIs. Of assessments that included a chlamydia/gonorrhoea test, 66.9% concurrently included a syphilis test. Integration of any STI test was associated with patients aged 20-24years (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4) and 25-29years (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2) compared to 16-19years and patients residing in very remote (OR 4.2, 95% CI 3.7-4.8), remote (OR 2.4, 95% CI 2.1-2.8), and regional areas (OR 2.5, 95% CI 2.2-2.8) compared to metropolitan areas. There was no association with patient sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Integration of STI testing into annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was higher in remote areas where disease burden is greatest. Integration is similar in men and women, which contrasts with most studies that have found higher testing in women.

Experiences of primary care among young adults with mental illness - A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Mental illness, such as depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and different addictive diseases, has increased among young adults over the last decade. Mental illness is associated with distress and problems functioning in social activities. Healthcare centres, that is, primary care, serve as the first point of contact with healthcare professionals for those young adults and provide outpatient medical and nursing care covering both physical and mental illness.

OBJECTIVE

To explore experiences of primary care among young adults with mental illness.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted that followed the method of Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry. A keyword search was performed in various databases, and after a quality assessment 23 articles were included in the review.

RESULTS

Young adults' experiences from primary care are described in four categories - Facing difficulties to accept help, relational preconditions, structural and organisational hindrances and satisfaction with youth-focused mental health interventions. Young adults with mental illness experience many difficulties in accessing and receiving proper help from primary care. Further, they did not believe in recovery from mental illness, and they also expressed a lack of mental health literacy.

CONCLUSION

While being the first contact with healthcare professionals, primary care needs to adjust its services to address the growing group of young adults suffering from mental illness. It is necessary to provide tailored guidelines and interventions in primary care for young adults with mental illness, and the Tidal Model may improve the contacts with young adults in primary care.

Will a fee-for-service payment for a young people's health assessment in general practice increase the detection of health risk behaviours and health conditions? Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial (RAd Health Trial)

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence is a period of major transition in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, and the peak time for the onset of mental health conditions, substance use disorders and sexual and reproductive health risks. Prevention and treatment during this time can improve health and well-being now and into the future. However, despite clinical guidelines recommending annual preventive health assessments for young people, health professionals cite lack of consultation time and adequate funding as key barriers. This trial aims to determine whether a specific fee-for-service ('rebate payment') for a young person's health assessment, is effective and cost-effective at increasing the detection and management of health risk behaviours and conditions among young people.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in Australian general practice. 42 general practices (clusters) will be randomly allocated 1:1 to either an intervention arm where general practitioners receive a rebate payment for each annual health assessment undertaken for 14-24-year-olds during a 2 year study period, or a control arm (no rebate). The rebate amount will be based on the Medical Benefits Schedule (Australia's list of health professional services subsidised by the Australian Government) currently available for similar age-based assessments. Our primary outcome will be the annual rate of risk behaviours and health conditions recorded in the patient electronic health record (eg, alcohol/drug use, sexual activity and mental health issues). Secondary outcomes include the annual rate of patient management activities related to health risks and conditions identified (eg, contraception prescribed, sexually transmitted infection tests ordered). A process evaluation will assess acceptability, adoption, fidelity and sustainability of the rebate; an economic evaluation will assess its cost-effectiveness. Analyses will be intention-to-treat.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval has been obtained from University of Melbourne Human and Research Ethics Committee (2022-23435-29990-3). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12622000114741.

Psychometric properties of the Kessler psychological scales in a Swiss young-adult community sample indicate poor suitability for community screening for mental disorders

AIM

The Kessler psychological distress scales (K10 and K6) are used as screening tools to assess psychological distress related to the likely presence of a mental disorder. Thus, we studied the psychometric properties of their German versions in a Swiss community sample to evaluate their potential usefulness to screen for mental disorders or relevant mental problems in the community and, relatedly, for low threshold transdiagnostic German-speaking services.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 829 citizens of the Swiss canton Bern of age 19-43 years. K10/K6 were validated against mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (M.I.N.I.) diagnoses, questionnaires about health status and quality of life. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to test for general discriminative ability and to select optimal cut-offs of the K10 and K6 for non-psychotic full-blown and subthreshold mental disorders.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alphas were 0.81 (K10) and 0.70 (K6). ROC analyses indicated much lower optimal thresholds than earlier suggested; 10 for K10 and 6 for K6. At these thresholds, against M.I.N.I. diagnoses, Cohen's κ (≤0.173) and correspondence rates (≤58.14%) were insufficient throughout. Values were higher at the earlier suggested threshold, yet, at the cost of sensitivity that was below 0.5 in all but three, and below 0.3 in all but six cases.

CONCLUSIONS

For the lack of sufficient validity and sensitivity, respectively, our findings suggest that both K10 and K6 would only be of limited use in a low-threshold transdiagnostic mental health service for young adults in Switzerland and likely other German-speaking countries.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Consensus Guidelines for Adolescent Friendly Health Services

Justification

Adolescent health is critical to the current and future well- being of the world. Pediatricians need country specific guidelines in accordance with international and national standards to establish comprehensive adolescent friendly health services in clinical practice.

Process

Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in association with Adolescent Health Academy formed a committee of subject experts in June, 2019 to formulate guidelines for adolescent friendly health services. After a review of current scientific literature and drafting guidelines on each topic, a national consultative meeting was organized on 16 August, 2019 for detailed discussions and deliberations. This was followed by discussions over e-mail and refining of draft recommendations. The final guidelines were approved by the IAP Executive Board in December, 2021.

Objective

To formulate guidelines to enable pediatricians to establish adolescent friendly health services.

Recommendations

Pediatricians should coordinate healthcare for adolescents and plan for transition of care to an adult physician by 18 years of age. Pediatricians should establish respectful, confidential and quality adolescent friendly health services for both out-patient and in-patient care. The healthcare facility should provide preventive, therapeutic, and health promoting services. Pediatricians should partner with the multidisciplinary speciality services, community, and adolescents to expand the scope and reach of adolescent friendly health services.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13312-022-2539-9 and is accessible for authorized users.

Best Practice During Teleconsultations With Adolescents: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Teleconsultations are increasingly used to deliver health care, yet guidance on how to maximize health outcomes and ensure the quality and rights-based principles of adolescent health care during teleconsultations is lacking. This scoping review synthesized the literature on teleconsultations with adolescents, with the objective of informing a practical guidance for healthcare professionals.

METHODS

Eight databases were searched to identify articles published between 2010 and 2020 in English, French, or Spanish that provided evidence or guidance on synchronous teleconsultations with 10- to 19-year-olds. Web sites in six high-income countries and six low- to middle-income countries were also searched and a Google search was conducted. Data were analyzed using narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Of 59 total references, 51 were from high-income countries. References included primary research (n = 21), reviews (n = 13), clinical guidance (n = 9), case reports (n = 9), commentaries (n = 6), and a website (n = 1). Just under half (46%) were descriptive, qualitative, or expert opinion. The main focus was mental health and behavioral disorders.

DISCUSSION

Good evidence on the complexities of conducting teleconsultations with adolescents is lacking. Questions remain regarding the scope and acuity of health issues for which teleconsultations are appropriate, their role in overcoming or contributing to inequalities, and the practicalities of conducting consultations.

A training for health care workers to integrate hepatitis B care and treatment into routine HIV care in a high HBV burden, poorly resourced region of Uganda: the '2for1' project

INTRODUCTION

The "2for1" project is a demonstration project to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of HBV care integrated into an HIV clinic and service. An initial phase in implementation of this project was the development of a specific training program. Our objective was to describe key features of this integrated training curriculum and evaluation of its impact in the initial cohort of health care workers (HCWs).

METHODS

A training curriculum was designed by experts through literature review and expert opinion. Key distinctive features of this training program (compared to standard HBV training provided in the Government program) were; (i) Comparison of commonalities between HIV and HBV (ii) Available clinic- and community-level infrastructure, and the need to strengthen HBV care through integration (iii) Planning and coordination of sustained service integration. The training was aided by a power-point guided presentation, question and answer session and discussion, facilitated by physicians and hepatologists with expertise in viral hepatitis. Assessment approach used a self-administered questionnaire among a cohort of HCWs from 2 health facilities to answer questions on demographic information, knowledge and attitudes related to HBV and its prevention, before and after the training. Knowledge scores were generated and compared using paired t- tests.

RESULTS

A training curriculum was developed and delivered to a cohort of 44 HCWs including medical and nursing staff from the two project sites. Of the 44 participants, 20 (45.5%) were male, average age (SD) was 34.3 (8.3) with an age range of 22-58 years. More than half (24, 54.5%) had been in service for fewer than 5 years. Mean correct knowledge scores increased across three knowledge domains (HBV epidemiology and transmission, natural history and treatment) post-intervention. However, knowledge related to diagnosis and prevention of HBV did not change.

CONCLUSION

A structured HBV education intervention conducted as part of an HIV/HBV care integration training for health care workers yielded improved knowledge on HBV and identified aspects that require further training. This approach may be replicated in other settings, as a public health strategy to heighten HBV elimination efforts.

Electronic Screening, Feedback, and Clinician Training in Adolescent Primary Care: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to test the effects of an electronic screening and feedback tool and training for primary care clinicians on care and adolescent health behaviors.

METHODS

We conducted a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial with six clinics randomly assigned to sequential crossover from control to intervention periods with clinician training between periods. Adolescents (ages 13-18) with a well visit during the control periods (n = 135) received usual care, while adolescents during the intervention periods (n = 167) received the electronic screening and feedback tool prior to their well visit, with results sent to their clinicians. Adolescents completed surveys at baseline, 1 day, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine associations between outcomes and treatment, controlling for time as a fixed effect and clinic as a random effect. All analyses employed intent-to-treat analyses and utilized multiple imputations for missing data.

RESULTS

Adolescents who received the intervention had a higher rate of counseling for their endorsed risk behaviors during the well visit (45% vs. 33%, Wald's T = 2.29, p = .02). There were no significant intervention effects on adolescent satisfaction with the clinician or perception of patient centeredness. The intervention was associated with a small but statistically significant reduction in overall risk score relative to control at 3 months (-.63, 95% confidence interval [-1.07, -.19], Cohen's d = .21), but not at 6 or 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that electronic screening and feedback may be associated with small reductions in risk behaviors at 3 months but that changes do not persist at longer term follow-up.

Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y): Spanish Validation Study

BACKGROUND

The short form, 17-item version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) is a validated measure that assesses psychosocial problems overall (OVR) and in 3 major psychopathological domains (internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), taking 5-10 min to complete. Prior research has established sound psychometric properties of the PSC-17-Y for English speakers.

OBJECTIVE

This study extends psychometric evidence for the acceptability of the PSC-17-Y in a large sample of Spanish adolescents, providing proof of its reliability and structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and longitudinal and gender invariance.

METHODS

Data were collected on 5430 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, who filled out the PSC-17-Y twice during 2018-2019 (7-month interval). We calculated the Cronbach alpha and the McDonald omega coefficients to test reliability, the Pearson correlation for convergent (distress) and criterion validity (well-being, quality of life, and socioemotional skills), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for structure validity, and multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis for longitudinal and gender stability.

RESULTS

Within structural analysis for the PSC-17-Y, CFA supported a correlated 3-factor solution, which was also invariant longitudinally and across gender. All 3 subscales showed evidence of reliability, with coefficients near or above .70. Moreover, scores of PSC-17-Y subscales were positively related with convergent measures and negatively related with criterion measures. Normative data for the PSC-17-Y are presented in the form of percentiles (75th and 90th).

CONCLUSIONS

This work provides the first evidence of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the PSC-17-Y administered over the internet to assess mental health problems among adolescents, maintaining the same domains as the long version.

Implementing the Routine Use of Electronic Mental Health Screening for Youth in Primary Care: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Adolescents often present at primary care clinics with nonspecific physical symptoms when, in fact, they have at least 1 mental health or risk behavior (psychosocial) issue with which they would like help but do not disclose to their care provider. Despite global recommendations, over 50% of youths are not screened for mental health and risk behavior issues in primary care.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to examine the implementation, acceptability, feasibility, benefits, and barriers of e-screening tools for mental health and risk behaviors among youth in primary care settings.

METHODS

Electronic databases-MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews-were searched for studies on the routine screening of youth in primary care settings. Screening tools needed to be electronic and screen for at least 1 mental health or risk behavior issue. A total of 11 studies that were reported in 12 articles, of which all were from high-income countries, were reviewed.

RESULTS

e-Screening was largely proven to be feasible and acceptable to youth and their primary care providers. Preconsultation e-screening facilitated discussions about sensitive issues and increased disclosure by youth. However, barriers such as the lack of time, training, and discomfort in raising sensitive issues with youth continued to be reported.

CONCLUSIONS

To implement e-screening, clinicians need to change their behaviors, and e-screening processes must become normalized into their workflows. Co-designing and tailoring screening implementation frameworks to meet the needs of specific contexts may be required to ensure that clinicians overcome initial resistances and perceived barriers and adopt the required processes in their work.

Bringing Inclusion Into Pediatric Primary Health Care: A Systematic Review of the Behavioral Health Treatment of Racial and Ethnic Minority Youth

INTRODUCTION

Currently, pediatric behavioral health care accounts for one of the fastest growing health care expenditures. Children representing racial and ethnic minority groups are still found to experience significant behavioral health needs. Primary health care represents the first level of contact with the health care system.

METHOD

The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize articles discussing the behavioral health needs and treatment of racial and ethnic minority in primary care settings.

RESULTS

Results yielded 40 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Themes included: provider screening, provider selected treatments, prevalence and need, and stigma and patient-provider communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Themes were discussed through the Ecological Systems Theory lens. Study limitations included its exclusion of intellectual disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder, lack of literature utilizing large minority samples, and lack of attention to the intersection between race and/or ethnicity alongside other demographics of concern like gender, age, social class, and geographical location.

Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Pediatric Preventive Counseling

OBJECTIVE

To measure pediatric preventive counseling at patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) compared with practices that reported undertaking some or no quality-related activities.

METHODS

We analyzed 4814 children and adolescents ages 0 to 17 who visited their usual sources of care in the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Medical Organizations Survey (MEPS-MOS), a household survey combined with a survey of household members' usual sources of care. We identified PCMHs using lists from certifying or accrediting organizations. For other practices in the MEPS-MOS, 2 quality-related activities were 1) reports to physicians about their clinical quality of care, and 2) electronic health record system reminders to physicians. Regressions controlled for practice, child, and family characteristics.

RESULTS

Compared with other practices, PCMHs were generally associated with greater likelihood of receiving preventive counseling. Estimates varied with the quality-related activities of the comparison practices. Counseling against smoking in the home was 10.4 to 18.7 percentage points (both P < .01) more likely for PCMHs. More associations were statistically significant for PCMHs compared with practices that undertook 1 of 2 quality-related activities examined. Among children ages 2 to 5, compared with practices undertaking both quality-related activities, those with PCMHs were more likely to receive counseling on 3 of 5 topics. Among adolescents, compared with practices undertaking both quality-related activities, those with PCMHs were more likely to receive counseling on smoking, exercise, and eating healthy.

CONCLUSIONS

PCMHs were associated with substantially greater receipt of pediatric preventive counseling. Evaluations of PCMHs need to account for the quality-related activities of comparison practices.

Adolescent Risk Behavior Screening and Interventions in Hospital Settings: A Scoping Review

CONTEXT

Risky behaviors are the main threats to adolescents' health; consequently, evidence-based guidelines recommend annual comprehensive risk behavior screening.

OBJECTIVE

To review studies of adolescent risk behavior screening and interventions in urgent care, emergency department (ED), and hospital settings.

DATA SOURCES

Our data sources included PubMed (1965-2019) and Embase (1947-2019).

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included on the basis of population (adolescents aged 10-25 years), topic (risk behavior screening or intervention), and setting (urgent care, ED, or hospital). Studies were excluded if they involved younger children or adults or only included previously identified high-risk adolescents.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data extracted were risk behavior screening rates, screening and intervention tools, and attitudes toward screening and intervention.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies were included; most (38 of 46) took place in the ED, and a single risk behavior domain was examined (sexual health [19 of 46], mood and suicidal ideation [12 of 46], substance use [7 of 46], and violence [2 of 46]). In 6 studies, authors examined comprehensive risk behavior screening, demonstrating low rates at baseline (∼10%) but significant increases with clinician reminder implementation. Adolescents and clinicians were highly accepting of risk behavior screening in all settings and preferred electronic screening over a face-to-face interview. Reported barriers were time constraints and limited resources.

LIMITATIONS

Only 1 included study was a randomized controlled trial, and there was large heterogeneity of included studies, potentially limiting generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of adolescent risk behavior screening are low in urgent care, ED, and hospital settings. Our findings outline promising tools for improving screening and intervention, highlighting the critical need for continued development and testing of interventions in these settings to improve adolescent care.

Electronic Health Risk Behavior Screening With Integrated Feedback Among Adolescents in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Health risk behaviors are the most common sources of morbidity among adolescents. Adolescent health guidelines (Guidelines for Preventive Services by the AMA and Bright Futures by the Maternal Child Health Bureau) recommend screening and counseling, but the implementation is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to test the efficacy of electronic risk behavior screening with integrated patient-facing feedback on the delivery of adolescent-reported clinician counseling and risk behaviors over time.

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled trial comparing an electronic tool to usual care in five pediatric clinics in the Pacific Northwest. A total of 300 participants aged 13-18 years who attended a well-care visit between September 30, 2016, and January 12, 2018, were included. Adolescents were randomized after consent by employing a 1:1 balanced age, sex, and clinic stratified schema with 150 adolescents in the intervention group and 150 in the control group. Intervention adolescents received electronic screening with integrated feedback, and the clinicians received a summary report of the results. Control adolescents received usual care. Outcomes, assessed via online survey methods, included adolescent-reported receipt of counseling during the visit (measured a day after the visit) and health risk behavior change (measured at 3 and 6 months after the visit).

RESULTS

Of the original 300 participants, 94% (n=282), 94.3% (n=283), and 94.6% (n=284) completed follow-up surveys at 1 day, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively, with similar levels of attrition across study arms. The mean risk behavior score at baseline was 2.86 (SD 2.33) for intervention adolescents and 3.10 (SD 2.52) for control adolescents (score potential range 0-21). After adjusting for age, gender, and random effect of the clinic, intervention adolescents were 36% more likely to report having received counseling for endorsed risk behaviors than control adolescents (adjusted rate ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.78) 1 day after the well-care visit. Both the intervention and control groups reported decreased risk behaviors at the 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments, with no significant group differences in risk behavior scores at either time point (3-month group difference: β=-.15, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.01, P=.05; 6-month group difference: β=-.12, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.52, P=.57).

CONCLUSIONS

Although electronic health screening with integrated feedback improves the delivery of counseling by clinicians, the impact on risk behaviors is modest and, in this study, not significantly different from usual care. More research is needed to identify effective strategies to reduce risk in the context of well-care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02882919; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02882919.

Previsit Multidomain Psychosocial Screening Tools for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Adolescence and young adulthood constitute a period when exploratory behaviors can evolve into risky behaviors. Most causes of adolescent ill health are preventable; therefore, it is a priority to detect them early before they turn into health problems. Previsit multidomain psychosocial screening tools are used by professionals to detect and prioritize potentially problematic issues. In conjunction with appropriate clinician training, these tools have improved clinician screening rates in several areas of adolescent health. This article reviews existing multidomain previsit psychosocial screening tools developed in the 21st century and describes their characteristics using a systematic methodology. We reviewed 10,623 records to identify 15 different tools in use since 2000 and described their characteristics. Results show that all tools were developed in high-income countries. The tools provide sufficient coverage of many psychosocial domains relevant to young people's health. However, some psychosocial domains such as screen use and strengths are seldomly addressed. Furthermore, the tools rarely focus on young adults as a target population. Future research should assess the effectiveness, acceptability, and psychometric properties of validated psychosocial screening tools and examine how to expand their use in low- and middle-income countries.

Primary care prevention of cardiovascular risk behaviors in adolescents: A systematic review

Adolescence is associated with behavioral changes offering opportunities for prevention of cardiovascular risk behaviors. Primary care physicians are ideally placed to deliver preventive interventions to adolescents. The objective was to systematically review the evidence about effectiveness of primary care-led interventions addressing the main cardiovascular risk behaviors in adolescents: physical activity, sedentary behaviors, diet and smoking. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ISRCTN registry were searched from January 1990 to April 2020. Randomized controlled trials of interventions in primary care contexts on at least one of the cardiovascular behaviors were included, targeting 10-19-year old adolescents, according to the World Health Organization's definition. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias. Twenty-two papers were included in the narrative synthesis, reporting on 18 different studies. Interventions targeting smoking uptake seemed more effective than interventions targeting established smoking or the three other risk behaviors. Intervention components or intensity were not clearly associated with effectiveness. Risk of bias was mostly unclear for most studies. There is little evidence for specific interventions on adolescents' cardiovascular risk behaviors in primary care, mainly due to studies' methodological limitations. Further research should investigate the effectiveness of opportunistic primary care-based interventions as compared to more complex interventions, and address the methodological shortcomings identified in this review.

Conductas de riesgo para la salud en adolescentes escolarizados del municipio de Tabio, Colombia

Objetivos Identificar los comportamientos de riesgo para la salud y describir su relación con las características sociodemográficas en los adolescentes de un colegio del municipio de Tabio, provincia de Sabana Centro, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Metodología Estudio descriptivo y de corte transversal en población adolescente escolar de 14 a 19 años, durante el año 2018, elegidos por medio de muestreo por conveniencia. Se obtuvo información mediante el cuestionario en español de la herramienta RAAPS (Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services), que evaluó los comportamientos de riesgo, previa firma de consentimiento y asentimiento informado. Se realizó análisis estadístico en el programa STATA versión 14.0. Resultados Se incluyó una muestra de 217 estudiantes, con edad promedio de 15,8 años (53% mujeres y 47% hombres). La mayoría de zona rural y estrato 2. Dentro de los comportamientos de riesgo detectados se destacan la falta de uso de cinturón de seguridad y casco en casi la mitad de los participantes, síntomas de tristeza en 37,3% (que afecta más a las mujeres), consumo de alcohol en el 45,2% y actividad sexual en el 30,9% (son más frecuentes en el grupo de 17 a 19 años y en el sexo masculino). Conclusión Los hallazgos confirman la presencia de comportamientos de riesgo para la salud en los adolescentes de la población estudiada, que deben ser intervenidos a través de estrategias preventivas efectivas y que alertan sobre la necesidad de implementar un sistema periódico de vigilancia.

Far from acceptable: youth-reported risk behaviour screening by primary care physicians

BACKGROUND

Adolescence and early adulthood are periods of experimentation during which health detrimental behaviours might be acquired.

OBJECTIVE

This study's purpose is to evaluate physicians' likelihood of addressing health risk behaviours with youths depending on the youths' wishes, risk behaviours and personal characteristics.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the third wave (2017-18) of the GenerationFRee longitudinal study carried out on a sample of 1970 youths aged 17-26 in Switzerland. Analysed risk behaviours were: eating disorders, substance use, emotional wellbeing, problematic Internet use and gambling. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs).

RESULTS

Physicians discussed most risk behaviours with less than half of the youths. The odds of addressing risk behaviours were seldom raised when the risk behaviour was present, or when the youth wished to discuss it. Emotional wellbeing was addressed with half as many males as females (aOR 0.47), and drugs were found to be addressed more frequently with youths reporting a low family socio-economic status (aOR 6.18). When a risk behaviour is addressed it is mostly alongside an extended screening.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed the low levels of health risk behaviours screening, regardless of the youths' wish to discuss the topic with their physician. Despite the low levels, physicians do tend to screen systematically, especially when discussing substance use. There is a need to improve physicians training in risk behaviour screening and counselling in order to increase this practice.

Proportion of young people in the general population consulting general practitioners: Potential for mental health screening and prevention

AIM

One of the main obstacles with prevention in psychiatry is low detection of young subjects at risk for psychosis. The aim of the present work is to test whether general practitioners' (GP) offices are a possible setting for prevention of mental illness.

METHODS

We used an Electronic Health Record database (Datanet) representing South-London (Lambeth), where frequency of GP visits were available for each registered subject.

RESULTS

We show that in 2018 out of almost 175 000 subjects aged 12 to 35, almost six out of ten people were seen by their General practitioner at least once in 2018, and considering those subjects with at least one medical condition, around nine subjects out of ten did the same.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of adolescents and young adults are seen by GPs at least once per year. GP offices should be tested as possible setting for detection of subjects at risk for mental illness, in particular in subjects with risk factors for mental illness.

Fostering Engagement in Health Behavior Change: Iterative Development of an Interactive Narrative Environment to Enhance Adolescent Preventive Health Services

PURPOSE

Accidents and unintentional injuries account for the greatest number of adolescent deaths, often involving use of alcohol and other substances. This article describes the iterative design and development of Interactive Narrative System for Patient-Individualized Reflective Exploration (INSPIRE), a narrative-centered behavior change environment for adolescents focused on reducing alcohol use. INSPIRE is designed to serve as an extension to clinical preventive care, engaging adolescents in a theoretically grounded intervention for health behavior change by leveraging 3D game engine and interactive narrative technologies.

METHODS

Adolescents were engaged in all aspects of the iterative, multiyear development process of INSPIRE through over 20 focus groups and iterative pilot testing involving more than 145 adolescents. Qualitative findings from focus groups are reported, as well as quantitative findings from small-scale pilot sessions investigating adolescent engagement with a prototype version of INSPIRE using a combination of questionnaire and interaction trace log data.

RESULTS

Adolescents reported that they found INSPIRE to be engaging, believable, and relevant to their lives. The majority of participants indicated that the narrative's protagonist character was like them (84%) and that the narrative featured virtual characters that they could relate to (79%). In the interactive narrative, the goals most frequently chosen by adolescents were "stay in control" (60%) and "do not get in trouble" (55%).

CONCLUSIONS

With a strong theoretical framework (social-cognitive behavior change theory) and technology advances (narrative-centered learning environments), the field is well positioned to design health behavior change systems that can realize significant impacts on behavior change for adolescent preventive health.

Reaching out to reduce health inequities for Māori youth

AIM

This paper describes an initiative facilitating comprehensive assessment and delivery of brief interventions for Māori youth in Northland, New Zealand.

BACKGROUND

The population in Northland is predominantly Māori and is one of New Zealand's most deprived populations. Māori youth have the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world and elevated numbers of youth displaying mental health issues and/or risk behaviours are of grave national concern. Like Indigenous peoples worldwide, inequities persist for Māori youth accessing and engaging with healthcare services.

DESCRIPTION

Taking services out to Māori youth in remote and isolated areas, Northland's youth specialist nurses are reducing some barriers to accessing health care. The youth version of the Case-finding and Help Assessment Tool is a New Zealand-developed, e-screening tool for youth psychosocial issues, facilitating comprehensive assessment and brief intervention delivery.

DISCUSSION

Early detection of, and timely intervention for, mental health and risk behaviours can significantly improve health outcomes in youth. However, for this to happen barriers preventing youth from accessing appropriate care need to be overcome.

CONCLUSION

Youth specialist nurses could improve access to care for youth from ethnic minorities, rural and isolated regions, and areas of high deprivation without overwhelming the medical profession.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Specialist nurses are trained and empowered to practice at the top of their scope. With general practitioner oversight and standing order sign off specialist nurses can work autonomously to improve access to health services, without increasing the workload of doctors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Encouraging continuous self-reflection of the nurse's effectiveness in meeting patient needs, holistically and culturally, facilitates the provision of accessible care that is patient-centred and culturally safe.

A Digital Platform Designed for Youth Mental Health Services to Deliver Personalized and Measurement-Based Care

Mental disorders that commonly emerge during adolescence and young adulthood are associated with substantial immediate burden and risks, as well as potentially imparting lifetime morbidity and premature mortality. While the development of health services that are youth focused and prioritize early intervention has been a critical step forward, an ongoing challenge is the heterogeneous nature of symptom profiles and illness trajectories. Consequently, it is often difficult to provide quality mental health care, at scale, that addresses the broad range of health, social, and functional needs of young people. Here, we describe a new digital platform designed to deliver personalized and measurement-based care. It provides health services and clinicians with the tools to directly address the multidimensional needs of young people. The term "personalized" describes the notion that the assessment of, and the sequence of interventions for, mental disorders are tailored to the young person-and their changing needs over time, while "measurement-based" describes the use of systematic and continuing assessment of a young person's outcomes over the entire course of clinical care. Together, these concepts support a framework for care that transcends a narrow focus on symptom reduction or risk reduction. Instead, it prioritizes a broader focus on enhancing social, health, and physical outcomes for young people and a commitment to tracking these outcomes throughout this key developmental period. Now, with twenty-first century technologies, it is possible to provide health services with the tools needed to deliver quality mental health care.

Engaging Young Men in the HIV Prevention and Care Continua: Experiences From Young Men of Color Who Have Sex With Men

Sexual minority individuals experience barriers to receiving equitable health care. Research also indicates that young men who have sex with men (YMSM), particularly young men of color, have limited engagement in the HIV care continuum and there are significant disparities across the continuum. This study aims to uncover how providers can engage YMSM of color in all forms of care, including primary care and HIV prevention through an HIV prevention continuum. This qualitative study reports data from the Healthy Young Men's Cohort Study; a total of 49 YMSM participated in the eight focus groups. This study provides a description of YMSM's overall health concerns, experiences with health care, and under what circumstances YMSM seek care. We then present a model describing the salient characteristics of a HIV prevention continuum for YMSM of color and provide clear areas for education, intervention, and policy change to support better overall health for YMSM of color.

Effect of Electronic Screening With Personalized Feedback on Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors in a Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Health risk behaviors are a leading cause of morbidity during adolescence. Screening and counseling for health risk behaviors are recommended but infrequently performed.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effect of an electronic screening and feedback tool on clinician counseling and adolescent-reported health risk behaviors.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A randomized clinical trial compared electronic screening and feedback on an intention-to-treat basis with usual care among 300 youths 13 to 18 years of age at 5 pediatric clinics in the Pacific Northwest. Outcomes were assessed via electronic survey at 1 day and 3 months after the initial visit. Study data collection occurred from March 13, 2015, to November 29, 2016, and statistical analysis was conducted between February 6, 2017, and June 20, 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

Youths in the intervention group (n = 147) received electronic screening and personalized feedback with clinician clinical decision support. Youths in the control group (n = 153) received standard screening and counseling as provided by their clinic.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Youths' report of receipt of counseling during the visit and risk behaviors at 3 months.

RESULTS

In the final study sample of 300 youths (intervention group, 75 girls and 72 boys; mean [SD] age, 14.5 [1.4 years]; and control group, 80 girls and 73 boys; mean [SD] age, 14.5 [1.4] years), 234 (78.0%) were aged 13 to 15 years. After adjusting for age, sex, and random effect of clinic, youths in the intervention group were more likely to receive counseling for each of their reported risk behaviors than were youths in the control group (adjusted rate ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.07-1.63). Youths in the intervention group had a significantly greater reduction (β = -0.48; 95% CI, -0.89 to -0.02; P = .02) in their risk behavior scores at 3 months when compared with youths in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Electronic screening of health risk behavior with clinical decision support and motivational feedback to teens can improve care delivery and outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02360410.

Integrating Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health into Population Health Analytics: A Conceptual Framework and Suggested Road Map

There is growing recognition that social and behavioral risk factors impact population health outcomes. Interventions that target these risk factors can improve health outcomes. This study presents a review of existing literature and proposes a conceptual framework for the integration of social and behavioral data into population health analytics platforms. The authors describe several use cases for these platforms at the patient, health system, and community levels, and align these use cases with the different types of prevention identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They then detail the potential benefits of these use cases for different health system stakeholders and explore currently available and potential future sources of social and behavioral domains data. Also noted are several potential roadblocks for these analytic platforms, including limited data interoperability, expense of data acquisition, and a lack of standardized technical terminology for socio-behavioral factors.

Mental health status and dietary intake among California adults: a population-based survey

California Health Interview Survey (2005-2015) data were used to examine the association between dietary intake frequencies and mental health - Kessler-6 scores categorised as no/low (NLPD), moderate (MPD) or serious psychological distress (SPD). The 245,891 surveys represented 27.7 million adults annually, with 13.2% having MPD and 3.7% SPD. Survey-adjusted regression adjusting for gender, age, race, education, poverty, marital status, BMI, geography and year found MPD and SPD associated with lower consumption of fruits (adjusted odds ratio 0.79 and 0.65, respectively), vegetables (AOR 0.81 and 0.68), and increased consumption of French fries (AOR 1.24, 1.30), fast food (AOR 1.32, 1.27), soda (AOR 1.23, 1.26) and variance-adjusted daily teaspoons of sugar (coefficients 3.05, 4.21), all p-values less than 0.001. In this large population-based sample, moderate and SPD were independently associated with unhealthy diet. Targeted public health interventions could focus on young adults and those with less than 12 years of education.

YouthCHAT as a Primary Care E-Screening Tool for Mental Health Issues Among Te Tai Tokerau Youth: Protocol for a Co-Design Study

Background

In New Zealand (NZ), 1 in 4 adolescents is affected by mental health issues (eg, depression and anxiety) and engages in risk behaviors (eg, harmful drinking and substance abuse), with rates among Māori youth being significantly higher. The majority of NZ secondary school students visit their local primary health care providers (PHPs) at least annually, yet most do not seek help for mental health and risk behavior (MHB) concerns. While youth think it acceptable to discuss sensitive issues during a consultation with their PHPs, unless problems are severe, such conversations are not initiated by PHPs. Early intervention for MHB concerns can prevent long-term health and well-being issues. However, this relies on the early identification of developing problems and youth being offered and accepting help. YouthCHAT is an electronic, multi-item screening tool developed in 2016 to assess MHB concerns among youth. YouthCHAT is completed before a consultation with the PHP, who can access a summary report straight away. A help question allows young people to identify issues that need addressing. A resource pack uses stepped care pathways to guide providers to use appropriate brief interventions.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of YouthCHAT when tailored for use with youth in primary care settings with large Māori populations. Objectives of the study are to evaluate the implementation of YouthCHAT in nurse-led youth clinics, school-based clinics, and general practice in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland, NZ); to develop a framework for the scaling up of YouthCHAT across further settings; to assess health provider and youth acceptability of the tool; to improve screening rates for mental health and help-seeking behavior; to enable early identification of emerging problems; and to improve brief intervention delivery.

Methods

Using a bicultural mixed-methods co-design approach, 3 phases over a 3-year period will provide an iterative evaluation of the utility, feasibility, and acceptability of YouthCHAT, aiming to create a framework for wider-scale rollout and implementation.

Results

Recruitment for the first phase began in September 2018. YouthCHAT was implemented at the first site in October 2018 and is expected to be at a further two sites in late January to early February 2019. The study is due for completion at the end of 2021.

Conclusions

YouthCHAT has potential as a user-friendly, time efficient, and culturally safe screening tool for early detection of MHB issues in NZ youth. The resource pack assists the clinician to provide appropriate interventions for emerging and developed youth mental health and lifestyle issues. Involving input from community providers, users, and stakeholders will ensure that modifiable elements of YouthCHAT are tailored to meet the health needs specific to each context and will have a positive influence on future mental, physical, and social outcomes for NZ youth.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/12108

Experiences of General Practitioners and Practice Support Staff Using a Health and Lifestyle Screening App in Primary Health Care: Implementation Case Study

Background

Technology-based screening of young people for mental health disorders and health compromising behaviors in general practice increases the disclosure of sensitive health issues and improves patient-centered care. However, few studies investigate how general practitioners (GPs) and practice support staff (receptionists and practice managers) integrate screening technology into their routine work, including the problems that arise and how the staff surmount them.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of a health and lifestyle screening app, Check Up GP, for young people aged 14 to 25 years attending an Australian general practice.

Methods

We conducted an in-depth implementation case study of Check Up GP in one general practice clinic, with methodology informed by action research. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted with GPs and support staff at the end of the implementation period. Data were thematically analyzed and mapped to normalization process theory constructs. We also analyzed the number of times we supported staff, the location where young people completed Check Up GP, and whether they felt they had sufficient privacy and received a text messaging (short message service, SMS) link at the time of taking their appointment.

Results

A total of 4 GPs and 10 support staff at the clinic participated in the study, with all except 3 receptionists participating in the final interviews and focus groups. During the 2-month implementation period, the technology and administration of Check Up GP was iterated through 4 major quality improvement cycles in response to the needs of the staff. This resulted in a reduction in the average time taken to complete Check Up GP from 14 min to 10 min, improved SMS text messaging for young people, and a more consistent description of the app by receptionists to young people. In the first weeks of implementation, researchers needed to regularly support staff with the app’s administration; however, this support decreased over time, even as usage rose slightly. The majority of young people (73/87, 84%) completed Check Up GP in the waiting room, with less than half (35/80, 44%) having received an SMS from the clinic with a link to the tool. Participating staff valued Check Up GP, particularly its facilitation of youth-friendly practice. However, there was at first a lack of organizational systems and capacity to implement the app and also initially a reliance on researchers to facilitate the process.

Conclusions

The implementation of a screening app in the dynamic and time-restricted general practice setting presents a range of technical and administrative challenges. Successful implementation of a screening app is possible but requires adequate time and intensive facilitation. More resources, external to staff, are needed to drive and support sustainable technology innovation and implementation in general practice settings.

Sexual Orientation Differences in Adolescent Health Care Access and Health-Promoting Physician Advice

PURPOSE

Physician screening and advice on health-related behaviors are an integral part of adolescent health care. Sexual minority adolescents encounter more barriers to health services; yet, no prior research has examined whether they also experience disparity in physician screening and advice. We examined possible sexual orientation disparities in health care access, physician screening, and advice on six health-related behaviors.

METHODS

Data were from a national sample of U.S. adolescents who participated in wave 2 of the NEXT Generation Health Study (n = 2023). Poisson regressions were conducted separately for males and females to estimate sexual orientation differences in health care access and health-related screening and advice.

RESULTS

Compared with heterosexual males, sexual minority males were more likely to report unmet medical needs in the past year (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 2.23) but did not differ with respect to receiving physician advice concerning health-related behaviors. Compared with heterosexual females, sexual minority females were more likely to report no routine physical checkup in the past year (ARR = 1.67) but were more likely to receive physician advice to reduce or stop drinking, smoking, drug use, increase physical activity, and improve diet (ARRs = 1.56-1.99), even after controlling for corresponding health-related behaviors. Sexual minority females were also more likely to receive advice about risk associated with sexual behavior (ARR = 1.35) and advice to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (ARR = 1.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Both sexual minority males and females experienced disparities in some aspects of health care access. Improved health-promoting advice would better serve sexual minority males.

Improving Patient-Centered Care for Young People in General Practice With a Codesigned Screening App: Mixed Methods Study

Background

Despite experiencing a high prevalence and co-occurrence of mental health disorders and health-compromising behaviors, young people tend not to seek professional help for these concerns. However, they do regularly attend primary care, making primary care providers ideally situated to identify and discuss mental health and lifestyle issues as part of young people’s routine health care.

Objective

The aim was to investigate whether using a codesigned health and lifestyle-screening app, Check Up GP, in general practice influenced young people’s assessment of the quality of their care (measures of patient-centered care and youth friendliness), and their disclosure of sensitive issues. In addition, this study aimed to explore young people’s acceptance and experience of using a screening app during regular health care.

Methods

This was a mixed methods implementation study of Check Up GP with young people aged 14 to 25 years attending a general practice clinic in urban Melbourne, Australia. A 1-month treatment-as-usual group was compared to a 2-month intervention group in which young people and their general practitioners (GPs) used Check Up GP. Young people in both groups completed an exit survey immediately after their consultation about disclosure, patient-centered and youth-friendly care, and judgment. In addition, participants in the intervention group were surveyed about app acceptability and usability and their willingness to use it again. Semistructured interviews with participants in the intervention group expanded on themes covered in the survey.

Results

The exit survey was completed by 30 young people in the treatment-as-usual group and 85 young people in the intervention group. Young people using Check Up GP reported greater disclosure of health issues (P<.001), and rated their GP higher in patient-centered care: communication and partnership (P=.01), personal relationship (P=.01), health promotion (P=.03), and interest in effect on life (P<.001). No differences were found on core indicators of youth-friendly care: trust, level of comfort, expectations met, and time to ask questions. In all, 86% (73/85) of young people felt the app was a “good idea” and only 1% (1/85) thought it a “bad idea.” Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 14 participants found that Check Up GP created scope to address unmet health needs and increased sense of preparedness, with use moderated by honesty, motivation, app content and functionality, and app administration.

Conclusions

Integrating a health and lifestyle-screening app into face-to-face care can enrich young people’s experience of seeing their GP, create scope to identify and address unmet health needs, and increase patient-centered care. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of using a health and lifestyle-screening app in a diverse range of clinic types and settings, and with a diverse range of GPs and youth.

Health profiles of overweight and obese youth attending general practice

BACKGROUND

Literature suggests that overweight and obese young people use healthcare services more often, but this awaits confirmation in primary care.

OBJECTIVE

To identify health profiles of underweight, overweight and obese young people attending general practice and compare them to normal-weight youth and also to explore the weight-related health risks of eating and exercise behaviour in the four different weight categories.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design with baseline data from a trial including 683 young people (14-24 years of age) presenting to general practice. Through computer-assisted telephone interviews data were obtained on number and type of health complaints and consultations, emotional distress, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and eating and exercise behaviour.

RESULTS

General practitioners (GPs) were consulted more often by overweight (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.28, 95% CI (1.04 to 1.57)) and obese youth (IRR: 1.54, 95% CI (1.21 to 1.97), but not for different health problems compared with normal-weight youth. The reason for presentation was seldom a weight issue. Obese youth reported lower physical HRQoL. Obese and underweight youth were less likely to be satisfied with their eating behaviour than their normal-weight peers. Exercise levels were low in the entire cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the need for effective weight management given that overweight and obese youth consult their GP more often. Since young people do not present with weight issues, it becomes important for GPs to find ways to initiate the discussion about weight, healthy eating and exercise with youth.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN16059206.

Research on Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents and Young Adults: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?

We reviewed research regarding system- and visit-level strategies to enhance clinical preventive service delivery and quality for adolescents and young adults. Despite professional consensus on recommended services for adolescents, a strong evidence base for services for young adults, and improved financial access to services with the Affordable Care Act's provisions, receipt of preventive services remains suboptimal. Further research that builds off successful models of linking traditional and community clinics is needed to improve access to care for all youth. To optimize the clinical encounter, promising clinician-focused strategies to improve delivery of preventive services include screening and decision support tools, particularly when integrated into electronic medical record systems and supported by training and feedback. Although results have been mixed, interventions have moved beyond increasing service delivery to demonstrating behavior change. Research on emerging technology-such as gaming platforms, mobile phone applications, and wearable devices-suggests opportunities to expand clinicians' reach; however, existing research is based on limited clinical settings and populations. Improved monitoring systems and further research are needed to examine preventive services facilitators and ensure that interventions are effective across the range of clinical settings where youth receive preventive care, across multiple populations, including young adults, and for more vulnerable populations with less access to quality care.