Could Be Better: Adolescent Access to Health Information and Care

Overview

Journal Eur J Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2024 Nov 13

PMID 39535560

Authors

Zaria Herriman

Heather Tchen

Patrick William Cafferty

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Conclusion: The purpose of this review is to examine how adolescents seek, and propose ways to help adolescents access, health information and care despite the many barriers they face.

What Is Known: • Adolescents encounter a broad range of barriers to access health information and care and turn to family members and friends, and search online, for health information. In addition, adolescents benefit from school-based health education programs and health centers that reduce barriers to healthcare access.

What Is New: • Adolescents engage in self-medication, including with cannabis use, to treat self-diagnosed illness or symptoms in a potentially harmful manner. • While many adolescents distrust health information shared on social media, recent evidence suggests adolescents are receptive to, and will change some beliefs, in response to health information posted on social media platforms.

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