Millions of US Teens May Be Missing Out on Annual Checkups[1],[2] and the Opportunity to be Screened for Potential Health Risks

BETHESDA, Md., April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately one-third of teens may be missing annual checkups according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services¹ and the US Census.² Teens often encounter social, emotional, and physical issues that may include eating disorders and obesity, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections.³ While experts agree that teens should get annual medical checkups to be screened for health risks and discuss important health-related matters,^4,3 perceptions exist that may contribute to millions of teens missing out on yearly visits.^1,2 To better understand perceptions about teen health, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), in collaboration with, and with support from Pfizer Inc, conducted a national survey, fielded by Harris Interactive, of more than 2,000 parents of teens, teens, and healthcare professionals.

To view the multimedia content, please click: teenhealthsurvey.com 

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A key finding was that about one in four parents surveyed said that teens' lifestyle choices today won't affect their health in the future⁵, and one in five teens surveyed agreed.⁶ The disconnect among parents and teens between today's choices and future impacts on health contrasts with medical thinking that health behaviors in the teen years can have a long-term impact on health in adulthood.⁷ For additional information and additional survey results, please visit myteenshealth.com.

"NFID has long been an advocate of preventive health. With the drop in annual checkups during the teen years, we wanted to take a look at the attitudes and behaviors of the people closest to teen health to see if we can better understand the reason for the decline," said Susan J. Rehm, MD, NFID medical director. "There's a valley in our healthcare continuum, and two out of three teens surveyed said they have at least one reason for not getting an annual checkup. If we understand why, we may be better equipped to address those perceptions."

The survey revealed a number of misperceptions and potential missed opportunities, including:

• About 60 percent of teens surveyed identified at least one reason for not getting an annual checkup; of those, about one-third believe that they only need to see a doctor when sick.⁶
• When teens are joined by a parent in the exam room, it can restrict the conversation, according to 84 percent of physicians surveyed.⁸
• About half of physicians surveyed assumed teens' friends were a most trusted source for health information,⁸ teens surveyed (43 percent) actually listed healthcare providers as their most trusted source for health information.⁶

Checkups are not just for babies

Parents of infants and young children are accustomed to regularly visiting a pediatrician for their child's checkups. But when children reach the teen years, these annual checkups may fall off the radar. While 85 percent of parents polled say an annual checkup is very important for those zero to five years,⁵ there was a 24 percent drop in the percentage who believe the same is true for teens (61 percent).⁵

Professional societies, including the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) and the American Medical Association (AMA), recommend annual checkups for teens.^4,3 In addition, the Affordable Care Act allows teens and young adults to remain under their families' health coverage up to age 26, which can help ensure that they have access to preventive health care, including checkups.⁹ 

Annual checkups can be an important opportunity for positive health discussions.³ Physicians polled report that teens and their parents are more likely to ask about a number of health topics, including weight, sexual health, vaccines, and stress-related conditions, during an annual checkup than at a sick visit.⁸

"Teens are smart, but they're just like the rest of us: overscheduled and overwhelmed. It's normal to have an 'it won't happen to me' attitude," said Aria Finger, chief operating officer of DoSomething.org, a large social change nonprofit in the United States. "It's about changing the consciousness of teens and those who care for them. Everyone wants what's best. Making the annual checkup part of the norm during teen years sets young people up to take charge and get ahead of the curve about their own health."

Teens worry about health

Nearly all parents, teens, and physicians surveyed (94,⁵ 96,⁶ and 97 percent,⁸ respectively) agree that teens should have a say in decisions about their own health. And the survey shows being healthy can be top of mind for many; two out of three teens surveyed say they worry a lot or a great deal about staying healthy.⁶ However, only 28 percent of parents reported that they believe their teens worry a lot or a great deal about their health.⁵ 

While teens may trust doctors, they don't necessarily like talking with them. Almost 40 percent of teens surveyed say they don't like talking with doctors or other health care providers.⁶  Fifty percent of teens surveyed turn to the Internet for health information.⁶ Parents surveyed report that when they are in the room, only half of the conversation is directed solely toward the teen.⁵ Furthermore, as noted, having a parent in the teen's exam room during an annual checkup can restrict the conversation, according to 84 percent of physicians.⁸

"The information and communication dynamic among teens, parents, and doctors is an important one," said Leslie Walker, MD, immediate past-president of SAHM and division chief of adolescent medicine and professor of pediatrics at University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Children's Hospital. "It's appropriate for teens to be able to talk to their doctor alone. Establishing this one-on-one relationship between patient and physician encourages independence and responsibility for one's own health."

It takes a village

Teens may also turn to other adults in their lives. One in four teens surveyed said they may turn to school-based professionals (teachers, guidance counselors and school nurses) for health information.⁶

"Teens are social beings," said Finger. "The adults and peers in their lives model behaviors and influence attitudes about health and well being. Engaging these audiences or equipping them to positively influence teens can go a long way."

About the survey

Harris conducted an online survey of 504 teens aged 13-17, 500 parents of teens aged 13-17, and 1,325 healthcare professionals including pediatricians and primary care physicians (n=510) and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses (n=815) in the United States. All respondents were sampled from the online panels maintained by Harris Interactive Inc. and its partners, invited by e-mail to be screened, and if qualified, participate in an online self-administered survey. Data was collected between Dec. 27, 2012 and Jan. 23, 2013. Data for all three surveys (teens survey, parents survey, and healthcare professional survey) were weighted.  

About this initiative

In addition to the survey, NFID, in collaboration with and with support from Pfizer Inc, recently convened a roundtable on adolescent health, inviting key organizations to share their perspectives about barriers to optimal adolescent wellness.

The roundtable and survey outcomes also contributed to the development of a Pfizer-sponsored Web site for parents: Parents Active in Teens Health, which provides tips for parents navigating the teen health landscape. Visit myteenshealth.com for more information.

About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Based in Bethesda, MD, NFID is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. For additional information, visit nfid.org.

Pfizer and Healthy Aging

Pfizer works to encourage action for healthy aging through multiple programs. To learn more, please visit www.getold.com.

About Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives.  We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products.  Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products.  Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.  Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.  For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.  To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll® and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers proprietary solutions in the areas of market and customer insight, corporate brand and reputation strategy, and marketing, advertising, public relations and communications research. Harris possesses expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Additionally, Harris has a portfolio of multi-client offerings that complement our custom solutions while maximizing our client's research investment. Serving clients in more than 196 countries and territories through our North American and European offices, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us - and our clients—stay ahead of what's next. For additional information, visit harrisinteractive.com.

¹ US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020: Adolescent Health Objectives. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=2. Updated March 28, 2013. Accessed April 5, 2013.

² U.S Census Bureau. Population Estimates. http://www.census.gov/popest/data/historical/2000s/vintage_2009/. Updated November 2012. Accessed on March 1, 2013.

³ American Medical Association. Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services.1997. http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/ad-hlth/gapsmono.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2013.

⁴ SAHM. Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents. J Adolesc Health.1997;21:203-214.

⁵ Harris Interactive. "Adolescent Wellness Survey." Parent Data Tables. February 7, 2013.

⁶ Harris Interactive. "Adolescent Wellness Survey." Teen Data Tables. February 7, 2013.

⁷ Coker T, Sareen H, Chung P, et al. Improving Access to and Utilization of Adolescent Preventive Health Care: The Perspective of Adolescents and Parents. J Adolesc Health. 2010;47:133-142.

⁸ Harris Interactive. "Adolescent Wellness Survey." HCP Data Tables February 7, 2013.

⁹ US Department of Health and Human Services. Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/information-for-you/young-adults.html. Updated April 2013. Accessed April 5, 2013.

Contact:
Jenn Corrigan
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
732-742-7148

SOURCE NFID