TITLE:	CHRONICALLY ILL ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNICATING WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

AUTHOR:	Dr Bryony Beresford
Research Fellow
Social Policy Research Unit
University of York
Heslinyton
York
YO1O SOD

Email: bab3@york.ac.uk
Tel:	01904-433608

ABSTRACT:
In contrast to research with adults, there is a sparsity of work on doctor-adolescent communication. This paper reports UK based research into chronically ill adolescents’ experiences of communicating with health professionals, including the identification of factors which hinder or facilitate their use of health professionals as an information source. Sixty-three adolescents (11-16 years) with a chronic condition (cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, juvenile chronic arthritis or Duchenne muscular dystrophy) were interviewed, and subsequently took part in two group discussion meetings with other adolescents of a similar age with the same condition. Factors affecting the openness and effectiveness of communication included: duration and frequency of contact; gender; perceived attitudes towards adolescents; the communication skills of the adolescent and health professional; and the presence of parents and medical students/trainee doctors. The type of information need also affected whether the adolescents felt able to raise an issue with a health professional. Adolescents were reluctant to raise personal or sensitive issues or to ask questions which revealed poor adherence. A perceived lack of interest in the wider impacts of having a chronic condition on the day-to-day life was also a barrier to adolescents discussing difficulties at school and socio-emotional problems. Communication and information provision are key roles for health professionals, yet this study highlights a population with potentially high levels of information need who are facing considerable barriers to addressing these needs. Steps taken to improve adolescent-health professional communication need to address a range of practical, attitudinal and behavioural factors.