Results of a UK survey of 1,002 healthy 15-18 year olds indicate that young people feel under informed in key areas of healthcare, which may have implications for long-term health.
According to the data, while 29 percent don’t think their education at school or college has helped them manage their health, 68 percent (strongly agree or agree) said they would have liked to learn more about how to manage their health in school.
Nearly one in five reported having had no teaching at school on mental health, despite suicide being among the greatest causes of mortality in this age group, while more than one in 12 said they would not seek advice on mental health problems.
Also of note, the poll, conducted by Censuswide for AbbVie, found that more than double would go to GPs first for advice on physical health than their own parents, but a third felt their GP often doesn’t explain things in a way they understand.
Shockingly, less than one percent selected a pharmacist as a top source of advice on physical, mental or sexual health, which was less than the number who identified internet search engines.
According to AbbVie, experts argue that health and education systems must be better linked in order to promote better lifelong confidence in seeking help and self-managing medical conditions.
“The sad truth is that, although we think of this age group as being free of needing to care about their health, an increasingly large proportion will be diagnosed with a chronic health condition while a teenager,” said Carrie Grant broadcaster, presenter and patient, commenting on the findings.
“These young people are going to need self-confidence and resilience to be able to master that and this poll indicates how much more we still need to do to equip them with the skills they need.”
“‘Patient activation’ is something the NHS wants to promote as it is associated with better health outcomes and reduced costs of healthcare,” added Matt Regan, UK general manager of AbbVie. “Younger people are often overlooked in this discussion as they have the greatest overall good health in society but this polling indicates we may be storing up problems.”
“Giving young people better information about how they can seek help in a safe and youth friendly way is essential to support young people’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing,” noted Emma Rigby, chief Executive of the Association for Young People’s Health.
