J Korean Med Assoc.  2009 Aug;52(8):739-744. 10.5124/jkma.2009.52.8.739.

An Approach to the Medical Treatment of Adolescent Patients and Health Problems of Adolescents

• Park SH

• KMID: 2188044
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2009.52.8.739

Abstract

Adolescents have generally been considered as a group with negligible health-related concerns, so it is not surprising that they have received little attention in terms of medical research until recently. This has resulted in their being largely ignored in epidemiologic studies, reinforcing the image that their medical problems are much less minor than other age groups. Adolescence health problems fall into the following categories; general health care, consequences of puberty, substance use and abuse, nutritional problems, outcomes of sexual behavior, consequences of psychosocial development, and health promotion and education. The important focus of the physicians' approach to the adolescent patients are privacy, advocacy, confidentiality, education, interaction and reassurance.

Keyword

Health problems; Approach; Adolescents

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Confidentiality
Delivery of Health Care
Health Promotion
Humans
Privacy
Puberty
Sexual Behavior

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