Providing adolescent sexual health care in the pediatric emergency department: views of health care providers.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2014
Identifier
doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000076; PMCID: PMC4266236
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore health care providers' (HCPs') attitudes and beliefs about adolescent sexual health care provision in the emergency department (ED) and to identify barriers to a health educator-based intervention.
METHODS: We conducted focused, semistructured interviews of HCPs from the ED and adolescent clinic of a children's hospital. The interview guide was based on the theory of planned behavior and its constructs: attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to facilitate care. We used purposive sampling and enrollment continued until themes were saturated. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using directed content analysis.
RESULTS: Twenty-nine interviews were required for saturation. Participants were 12 physicians, 12 nurses, 3 nurse practitioners, and 2 social workers; the majority (83%) were female. Intention to facilitate care was influenced by HCP perception of (1) their professional role, (2) the role of the ED (focused vs expanded care), and (3) need for patient safety. Health care providers identified 3 practice referents: patients/families, peers and administrators, and professional organizations. Health care providers perceived limited behavioral control over care delivery because of time constraints, confidentiality issues, and comfort level. There was overall support for a health educator, and many felt the educator could help overcome barriers to care.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges unique to the ED, HCPs were supportive of the intervention and perceived the health educator as a resource to improve adolescent care and services. Future research should evaluate efficacy and costs of a health educator in this setting.
Journal Title
Pediatric emergency care
Volume
30
Issue
2
First Page
84
Last Page
90
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Attitude of Health Personnel; Confidentiality; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Personnel, Hospital; Reproductive Health; Reproductive Medicine
Keywords
Attitude of Health Personnel; Confidentiality; Emergency Service; Reproductive Health; Reproductive Medicine
Recommended Citation
Miller, M. K., Mollen, C. J., O'Malley, D., Owens, R. L., Maliszewski, G. A., Goggin, K., Kelly, P. Providing adolescent sexual health care in the pediatric emergency department: views of health care providers. Pediatric emergency care 30, 84-90 (2014).
Comments
Grant support