adolescent communication
Post on 20-Jun-2015
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Adolescent Communication
Jolene, Caitlin, John, and Sara
Who Are Adolescents?
• Teenagers
• 13-18 years of age
Who Are Adolescents?
• Transitioning from childhood to adulthood
• Range of Maturity levels• Time of physical,
emotional, and social change
• Many demands are placed on them– School, peers, society
Who Are Adolescents?
• May act mature like adults
• Childlike behaviour when ill or in stressful situations
• Desire Independence– Still dependent on
parents for comfort & Security
Who are Adolescents?
• Difficult to allow autonomous decisions
• Not always clear if they are capable of making wise authoritative decisions
• Avoid using authoritarian approach
• Involve them in as much decision making as possible
Adolescents can understand:
• Cause and effect• Multistep directions• Concepts in health• Causes of disease• Benefits of health promotion– May reject practicing them due to
social pressures
Basic Communication with Adolescents
• Provide thorough explanations and rational
• Clarify scientific language
• Make information meaningful to life
• Use appropriate tone of voice, attitude and volume of voice
Remember that poor attitudes toward healthcare in adults may be a result of a
lack of sensitivity to the individual during these
Adolescent years
Barriers to Communication
• Changing Individual and Body
• Confidentiality• Privacy
Changing Individual and Body
• Physical, emotional, hormonal changes are occurring
– effects their behavior, emotions, and changes in their mood
– may behave irrationally or be emotionally unstable
Changing Individual and Body
• May be more emotionally charged depending on the context– Their condition may have a huge impact on them,
especially if it alters their physical appearance or body functions
– Illness or injury can mean loss of dependency and feelings of confinement • eg. Broken leg
Changing Individual and Body
• Adapting to bodily changes and very preoccupied with appearance– Growth spurts, increased
weight, changes in bodily proportions, etc.
• Change in physical appearance may cause embarrassment – clumsiness, poor
coordination, and a change in body image
Changing Individual and Body
Communication:• Make patient
comfortable Humor– Ask about hobbies,
school, sports, etc.– May be more willing to
communicate and discuss concerns and ask questions
Changing Individual and Body
Communication:• be modest, understanding and do not judge• Sensitivity to Adolescent’s embarrassment• Provide thorough explanations and the rational
for procedures.
Confidentiality
• One of most important aspects of health care for Adolescents
• Ensure patient that everything is kept confidential, and explain what this means– Everything is between the
health care workers providing care and the patient
– Includes what happens, conversations, or the results
Confidentiality
Communication:• May be more willing to communicate and discuss
concerns and ask questions if they feel they can trust the health care worker
• Try and make the patient feel comfortable– use of humor– Ask about hobbies, school, sports, etc.– avoid making comments about their hair or clothes, or
good grades • These are sensitive topics due to peer and parent expectations
Confidentiality
Communication:• Ask open ended
questions allowing them to open up
• Do not judge – issues may be embarrassing or personal
Confidentiality
• Communication difficulties may be caused by fear that information will not be kept confidential– Concern that parents will be informed about discussions
that take place between the adolescent and the health care professional• Fear of potential scolding from parents
– Pregnancy Example– This can also result in reluctance to talk about health
concerns and problems
Confidentiality
• Address fears and concerns• Parents still continue to be
the main providers, carers, and sources of health information to teenagers.– This contribution by parents
needs to be supported and respected
• Parents/Guardians may need to sign an informed consent if the patient is a minor (under 18)
Privacy
Privacy
• Modesty and privacy are very important
• Includes fear threats to their physical appearance– change in body image
may cause embarrassment
• X-ray images may be perceived by adolescents as being invasive and “seeing everything”
Privacy
Communication:• Treat worries and
concerns with Respect and Dignity– Ask open ended
questions– No judgement– Provide thorough
explanations and the rational for procedures.
PrivacyCommunication:• Allow adolescent privacy • Right to undergo a procedure, treatment, examination
without parents present• Discuss sensitive health issues in private
Youth does not mean healthy – Adolescents are often overlooked and can have serious health
issues/ Concerns
An Interview With an ER Nurse
Adolescent cases vary greatly:
• Range in maturity and dependency
• Values• privacy and responsibility
• Communication• Encouragement, positive feedback, patience, flexibility
• Compounding complications• Cultural, language, mental health, drug addiction, child
abuse
THE END
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