ABSTRACT
The present clinical note outlines the application of the concept of early intervention to early adolescence. This important developmental phase provides numerous opportunities for physicians and other health care professionals to employ disease prevention and health-promoting strategies within the context of their day-to-day clinical interactions with adolescents.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/ethnology , Cultural Diversity , Health Behavior , Health Education , Adolescent , HumansABSTRACT
Obesity is recognized by the World Health Organization as an emerging epidemic with significant health risks. This paper outlines the issues for overweight and obese adolescents in Canada, and provides guidelines for providing practical, office-based management in the community. The focus is upon promoting healthy approaches to weight, eating and activity.
ABSTRACT
Primary care physicians have an important role in assessing and managing adolescents who present with low weight. Initial diagnosis should be based on current understanding of adolescents' eating behaviours and be followed by obtaining supportive evidence. A practical developmental approach to management should be emphasized. Criteria for hospitalization, a three-step approach to management, and indications for expanding from a primary care to a team approach are discussed.
Subject(s)
Family Practice , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Feeding and Eating Disorders/therapy , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior , Clinical Protocols , Diagnosis, Differential , Feeding and Eating Disorders/classification , Feeding and Eating Disorders/epidemiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Hospitalization , Humans , Life Style , Medical History Taking , Menu Planning , Patient Care Team , Psychology, Adolescent , Psychotherapy , Risk FactorsSubject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Risk-Taking , Accidents, Traffic , Adolescent , Child , Environment , Humans , Models, Psychological , ViolenceABSTRACT
The recent trend in suicide mortality has made it the second-most-common cause of death in adolescence. The recognition of depressed adolescents, especially males, is made difficult by their low utilization of health services and by the variety of modes of presentation. The family physician's ability to play an effective role in helping the depressed adolescent and preventing the occurrence of suicide depends on the establishment of rapport, obtaining a detailed history, and being prepared to offer continuity of care. In most depressed adolescents there is limited need for hospitalization, medication or psychiatric treatment.
ABSTRACT
All suicides or suspect suicides involving persons under 20 years of age in the Province of British Columbia in 1978 and 1979 were studied. Coroner's files were used to identify 122 cases, of which 11% involved persons under the age of 15 years. Males 15-19 years of age accounted for 80 cases and 52% used a rifle as the means of death; females 15-19 years of age used alcohol and drugs in 54% of all cases. Suicides involving adolescents 15-19 years of age were analyzed by sex, ethnicity, and residence. Native Indians and nonmetropolitan residents were disproportionately represented and were more likely to use a rifle. Females and metropolitan residents were more likely to use methods other than firearms. Alcohol consumption was a feature in 45% of cases, but there was no significant difference between groups based on sex, ethnicity, or residence. Antecedent problems were not identified or recorded in 39% of the male and 31% of the female cases.
Subject(s)
Suicide/epidemiology , Adolescent , Alcohol Drinking , British Columbia , Ethnicity , Female , Humans , Male , Sex Factors , Suicide, Attempted/epidemiology , Wounds, Gunshot/mortalityABSTRACT
The amalgamation of two provincial pediatric referral centers into a single new Children's Hospital is examined from the perspective of the pattern of adolescent hospitalization in each. Ministry of Health hospital records for 11-19-year-olds discharged from the two pediatric referral centers during the period 1971-1978 were studied. Patients were divided into five arbitrary groups, based on their length of stay and discharge diagnosis. Level A patients accounted for 43.9% of discharges and were short-stay, uncomplicated, and primarily surgical cases. Level D patients were a much smaller group (16.3%) but accounted for 56.9% of bed days. Violence and pregnancy accounted for 37.8% of all discharges and were the most frequent reason for hospitalization. The present pattern of bed utilization by 11-19-year-olds admitted to these two centers requires an estimated 100 hospital beds per day. If this pattern were to be transposed, unmodified, to the new Children's Hospital, adolescents would use 50% of its 200-bed complement. Planning options to modify this requirement and the impact of changing patterns of hospital utilization are presented.