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Asking Teens Questions by Computer Results in Honest Answers

Parents of teens know how difficult it is to get them to talk about their personal lives, let alone their health. With only 20% of children with mental health problems in the United States being properly identified and treated, it is imperative that a solution be found. Doctors and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are one step closer by finding a new way to get teens to open up about their health and what’s really on their mind, bringing up issues that otherwise would have gone unnoticed.

In a study published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, results showed that a hand-held wireless web tablet was able to get teens to answer sensitive questions honestly while in the waiting room during a primary care visit.

The study used the Health eTouch tablet to ask adolescent patients questions about sensitive topics including substance abuse, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Based on the patient’s response, their doctor could best advise the patient on follow-up care or specialist appointments.

Kelly Kelleher, MD, MPH, the study’s senior author and director of the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, says that Health eTouch is a process that allows physicians to integrate health assessments into the primary care setting. It utilizes and maximizes waiting room time, presenting results to the doctor right away and helping them to make quick, informed decisions about the patient’s care.

“Physicians are often rushed during daily clinic appointments and Health eTouch helps to enhance communications between patients and their doctors,” says Kelleher. “Early recognition of medical and behavioral issues is key for long-term effectiveness of care.”

Data from the study showed patients that were screened had a significantly higher probability of both medical and behavioral follow-up care in 180 days post-screening for the indicated risks. The study included nearly 1,000 patients aged 11 to 20 with more than three quarters of that population under the age of 16.

— Source: Nationwide Children's Hospital