RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Understanding why adolescents decide to visit family physicians: qualitative study.
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP 1660
OP 1661
VO 51
IS 12
A1 Klein, Douglas
A1 Wild, T Cameron
A1 Cave, Andrew
YR 2005
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/51/12/1660.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE To understand why Canadian adolescents go or do not go to see family physicians for annual checkups using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a conceptual framework. DESIGN Qualitative analysis of small group discussions. SETTING Edmonton, Alta, a large Canadian city. PARTICIPANTS Seventeen adolescents (6 male, 11 female) recruited from a medical clinic and an organized youth group. METHOD Two small group discussions and one validation focus group were held. A combination of category coding and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data transcribed. MAIN FINDINGS Adolescents reported that regular checkups, although uncomfortable, are a good idea. They also reported that going to a family doctor for a checkup is out of their control because of numerous barriers (eg, lack of time, not knowing how to set it up, or lack of transportation). Participants thought their parents' opinions on going for routine checkups were more important than the opinions of their peers. CONCLUSION Family physicians should recognize adolescents' attitudes toward visiting family physicians' offices and understand the potential barriers adolescents face in coming in for checkups in order to make visits to their offices more comfortable and beneficial.