Adolescents' willingness to use a school-based clinic in view of expressed health concerns

Abstract

A health needs assessment was developed to facilitate implementation of a comprehensive school-based adolescent clinic. Students were asked about their willingness to use a school-based clinic for certain health and emotional problems. Six hundred students in grades 9 through 12 completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Twenty-eight percent of respondents reported recently feeling depressed; 12% reported a prior suicide attempt. Twenty-five percent of students felt they were overweight. Of 56% who had experienced intercourse at least once, only one third had ever used birth control. Twenty-one percent smoked cigarettes and 27% marijuana, 24% used other drugs, and 38% used alcohol. Students who reported depression and past suicide attempts were significantly (p less than or equal to 0.001) more willing to use the clinic for counseling needs than students not so reporting. Those with perceived weight problems reported more willingness to use a school clinic for nutrition information than those who did not feel overweight. Currently sexually active students were also more willing (p less than or equal to 0.001) than nonsexually active students to use the clinic for sexuality information and sexually transmitted disease screens. Respondents who used drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, however, were no more willing than nonsubstance-using peers to use clinic services for relevant health information.

PIP: A health needs assessment was developed to facilitate implementation of a comprehensive school-based adolescent clinic. Students were asked about their willingness to use a school-based clinic for certain health and emotional problems. 600 students in grades 9-12 completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires. 28% of respondents reported recently feeling depressed; 12% reported a prior suicide attempt. 25% of students felt they were overweight. Of 56% who had experienced intercourse at least once, only 1/3 had ever used birth control. 21% smoked cigarettes and 27% marijuana, 24% used other drugs, and 38% used alcohol. Students who reported depression and past suicide attempts were significantly (p 0.001) more willing to use the clinic for counseling needs than students not so reporting. Those with perceived weight problems reported more willingness to use a school clinic for nutrition information than those who did not feel overweight. Currently sexually active students were also more willing (p 0.001) than nonsexually active students to use the clinic for sexuality information and sexually transmitted disease screens. Respondents who used drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, however, were no more willing than non-substance-using peers to use clinic services for relevant health information. As a group, adolescents have some unique age-related health problems. Because adolescence represents a time when health behaviors and attitudes are being formed, it is a crucial time for health intervention. These findings suggest that high school students with unmet health needs are willing to receive health care and education at a school-based clinic.