Office counseling for the adolescent.

Abstract

Physicians can and do influence adolescents' health-related behaviors. A recent study of low-income adolescents found that most adolescents report they are not receiving sufficient counseling about risk and risky behaviors from their physicians [8]. The results of this study and the author's personal experience (teaching physicians how to counsel and interview adolescents) support the need for physicians to learn more about office-based counseling with adolescents. Physicians who care for teens should learn how to meet the unique needs of individuals at varying stages of development and be prepared to offer counseling services tailored to the special needs of this population. Awareness of counseling techniques and knowledge of how to use those techniques effectively should help family medicine physicians to provide effective comprehensive health care to adolescent patients.