Enhancing Youth Health in Primary Care: Lessons Learned From General Practitioners

Abstract

Primary care represents a fundamental component of the health system, particularly for young people. However, youth access to primary care is less than ideal. To optimize clinician capacity to promote youth health, an interactive training module was developed and tailored to the needs of general practitioners. As part of an exploratory study, 11 participants were interviewed to determine the perceived capacity of the module to promote youth-friendly primary care. Findings suggest the module can enhance clinician skills, knowledge, and confidence to promote youth health; however, it has a limited ability to inform how organizational capacity might be bolstered-this includes the development of interagency networks. In this epoch of primary care reform, these findings are important for two key reasons. First, they reveal the need to bolster clinicians' perceived ability to use youth healthcare skills; second, they highlight the complementary importance of organizational support to ensure and sustain youth-friendly practices. The article concludes with a discussion of key implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.

Understanding practitioner perspectives of youth healthcare using thematic and lexical analyses

“…[8][9][10][11][12] Youth healthcare can be a challenging area to work, partly because of limited support. [13][14][15][16] A systematic review suggested youth access to sexual and reproductive health services is hindered by service accessibility; privacy and confidentiality; and staff characteristics and competencies. 17 Another concluded that youth engagement with health systems is influenced by "the ability to recognize and understand health issues; service knowledge and attitudes toward help-seeking; structural barriers; professionals' knowledge, skills, attitudes; service environments and structures; ability to navigate the health system; youth participation; and technology opportunities".…”

“…Youth healthcare can be a challenging area to work, partly because of limited support . A systematic review suggested youth access to sexual and reproductive health services is hindered by service accessibility; privacy and confidentiality; and staff characteristics and competencies .…”

Marginalised young people’s healthcare journeys: Professionals’ perspectives

“…Studies among health professionals have found that young people in general are perceived as challenging. Clinicians often can lack skills and confidence to engage young people (Gearing et al, 2012) or require more time to manage some health and psychosocial issues (Dadich et al, 2014; Jarrett et al, 2011). Some clinicians do not always see it as their role to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for young people (Dadich et al, 2015).…”

The promise of primary health reform for youth health

“…Like many other nations, Australia is witnessing ‘the single biggest health reform in a quarter of a century’, the essence of which is health care that is ‘funded nationally … and run locally’ . Given mounting evidence on what works in youth health care, current health reforms represent a window of opportunity to promote youth health.…”

“…and run locally'. 27 Given mounting evidence on what works in youth health care, 28,29 current health reforms represent a window of opportunity to promote youth health.…”