ABSTRACT
Health care providers are faced with many challenges when working with adolescents. Vague symptoms, unreliable menstrual history, and adolescent reluctance to disclose sexual activity present challenges to early diagnosis. When pregnancy is suspected, clinicians need skills for accurate diagnosis, conducting comprehensive assessments, and providing options counseling. Complexities of providing confidential care while balancing the needs of the adolescent and family may deter some clinicians. A clinical case scenario illustrates important elements of care. Through sharing lessons learned from 10 years of working in a Pregnancy Follow-up Clinic, the authors hope to empower other clinicians as they care for adolescents during this critical time.
Subject(s)
Counseling/organization & administration , Nursing Assessment/organization & administration , Pregnancy Tests/methods , Pregnancy in Adolescence , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Abortion, Legal , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services/organization & administration , Female , Humans , Medical History Taking , Nurse Practitioners , Pediatric Nursing , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/therapy , Pregnancy Tests/nursing , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy in Adolescence/prevention & control , Pregnancy in Adolescence/psychology , Pregnancy in Adolescence/statistics & numerical data , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/diagnosis , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/therapy , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Many adolescents use home pregnancy tests when they suspect pregnancy. However, because of developmental issues and greater variation in menstrual cycles, teens are at risk for obtaining false-negative test results. Moreover, with teens, the need for a pregnancy test often accompanies the need for comprehensive reproductive care including evaluation for sexually transmitted infections and contraception. This article reviews the mechanisms of home pregnancy testing including sensitivity, accuracy, and home testing procedures. Clinical strategies for improving the accuracy of home pregnancy tests for teen users are discussed. Lastly, policy implications to improve teens' access to more accurate pregnancy testing and to reproductive health services are suggested.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Pregnancy Tests/methods , Pregnancy in Adolescence/urine , Self Care/methods , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Maternal-Child Nursing/methods , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Tests/nursing , Pregnancy in Adolescence/prevention & control , Sex Education/methodsSubject(s)
Health Education/methods , Parents/education , Pregnancy Tests , Prenatal Care/methods , Female , Genetic Testing/methods , Genetic Testing/nursing , Genetic Testing/psychology , Humans , Informed Consent , Male , Parents/psychology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Tests/methods , Pregnancy Tests/nursing , Pregnancy Tests/psychology , Social SupportABSTRACT
Home pregnancy test kits are more sensitive than many pregnancy kits used in laboratories or health centres. Nurses should know the sensitivity of the kit used in their centre or laboratory. A positive home pregnancy test should always be treated as the correct result until sufficient tests have been carried out to prove otherwise.
