Confidentiality With Adolescents in the Medical Setting: What Do Parents Think?

Abstract Purpose When confidential health care is provided to adolescents they are more likely to seek care, disclose sensitive information, and return for future visits. Guidelines for health professionals recommend seeing young people alone to facilitate confidential care. We sought to document pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 2011-10, Vol.49 (4), p.428-430
Main Authors: Duncan, Rony E., Ph.D, Vandeleur, Moya, M.B.B.S, Derks, Anouk, B.Sc, Sawyer, Susan, M.B.B.S., M.D., F.R.A.C.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Medicine
Adolescents
Attitudes
Biological and medical sciences
Children
Clinics
Confidentiality
Ethics
Fear
Female
Health participants
Health professionals
Humans
Information policy
Male
Medical sciences
Medical service
Parent-Child Relations
Parental Notification
Parents
Parents - psychology
Pediatrics
Physician-Patient Relations
Privacy
Professional-Family Relations
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Surveys and Questionnaires
Victoria
Youth
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Summary:Abstract Purpose When confidential health care is provided to adolescents they are more likely to seek care, disclose sensitive information, and return for future visits. Guidelines for health professionals recommend seeing young people alone to facilitate confidential care. We sought to document parental views regarding confidentiality with adolescents, aiming to identify topics that parents believe they should be informed about despite an assurance of confidentiality between their child and the doctor. We also aimed to document harms and benefits that parents associate with adolescents seeing doctors alone. Methods A sample of 86 parents attending an adolescent medicine clinic with their son/daughter was surveyed using a brief, anonymous questionnaire. Results Parents identified several benefits associated with confidential care, yet also believed they should be informed about a wide range of topics, even if their children did not want them to know. Parents' primary concern about confidentiality was a fear of not being informed about important information. Conclusions Parental views concerning confidentiality are complex and conflicting and differ from current guidance provided to health professionals. Ensuring that parents accurately understand the limits to confidentiality and support the notion of confidential care for their children is a challenging yet vital task for health professionals.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.02.006