Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Arch Dis Child. 2013 Jan;98(1):9-15. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-301629. Epub 2012 Jul 21.
To identify health needs, preferred sources of health information and associated factors in Taiwanese adolescents.
Cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey conducted in Taiwanese adolescents aged 12-18 years in 2010.
Adolescents were queried about their health needs, healthcare service utilisation and preferred sources of health information. We compared differences in reported health needs and available sources among gender groups and grade levels. Demographic correlates of adolescent health needs were further examined using multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis.
Participants (n=5018) needed weight and height information most, followed by dietary health advice. Academic stress was emphasised more than behavioural issues. Perceived needs for health information varied by age and gender. General high school programme, suburban location and chronic illness were associated with higher need. Only a small proportion (4.3%) of adolescents used healthcare services for mental and emotional concerns. Parents were the primary sources of health information, although students also turned to teachers, particularly for sensitive issues. Moreover, the mass media and internet were increasingly popular sources of information.
To achieve continuous care from childhood through adolescence to adulthood, paediatricians should understand adolescents' diverse views of health needs and preferred sources of health information. Several demographic variables were shown to influence their health needs, reflecting the East Asian cultural context. Anticipatory guidance on body image, dietary health and academic stress should be emphasised while caring for these adolescents. We therefore advocate the development and effective delivery of culturally relevant adolescent-friendly health services.
确定台湾青少年的健康需求、首选健康信息来源和相关因素。
2010 年在台湾对 12-18 岁青少年进行的横断面问卷调查。
询问青少年的健康需求、医疗服务利用情况和首选健康信息来源。我们比较了不同性别组和年级组报告的健康需求和可用来源之间的差异。使用多有序逻辑回归分析进一步检查了青少年健康需求的人口统计学相关性。
参与者（n=5018）最需要体重和身高信息，其次是饮食健康建议。学业压力比行为问题更受重视。健康信息需求因年龄和性别而异。普通高中课程、郊区位置和慢性病与更高的需求相关。只有一小部分（4.3%）青少年因心理和情绪问题使用医疗服务。父母是健康信息的主要来源，但学生也求助于老师，尤其是在敏感问题上。此外，大众媒体和互联网越来越成为受欢迎的信息来源。
为了实现从儿童期到青春期再到成年期的持续护理，儿科医生应该了解青少年对健康需求和首选健康信息来源的不同看法。几个人口统计学变量显示会影响他们的健康需求，反映了东亚文化背景。在照顾这些青少年时，应强调身体形象、饮食健康和学业压力方面的预期指导。因此，我们主张开发和有效提供文化相关的青少年友好型健康服务。
