Possible Pitfalls in Adolescent Medicine in Flanders: A qualitative Approach

Abstract

Objective:  Adolescent healthcare consists of a triadic relationship involving the physician, adolescent patient, and parents. In Belgium an adolescent patient can have a high degree of autonomy based on a maturity assessment by the physician. This qualitative study assesses the perspectives of general practitioners and families with adolescent children on the rights of adolescent patients.

Methods: The research methodology employed focus group discussions with ten general practitioners and semi-structured interviews with twelve families recruited via social media. Physicians practiced in Flanders, and families included adolescents aged 14 to 17 years and their parents without a medical background. Interviews were conducted online, with data analysis guided by the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven (QUAGOL).

Results: The analysis revealed some of the specific challenges in daily clinical practice. The identified pitfalls include an insufficient awareness of the details of patient rights among both physicians and families, the passive role of adolescents, the effect of parenting styles and the loss of intricate knowledge of the family context in group medical practices.

Conclusion: These challenges underscore the complexity of this triadic relationship. A deliberate and mindful approach, characterized by effective communication and active engagement of all stakeholders is needed to guarantee high quality adolescent healthcare provision.