Connecting youth with health services Systematic review

OBJECTIVE To identify models of health care delivery that support youth access to health and mental health care. DATA SOURCES Information was obtained from PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, and Sociological Abstracts (CSA Illumina). STUDY SELECTION Studies reviewed in this article provided level I, II, or III evidence. SYNTHESIS Youth access health care, with the support of parents and family, through families' existing health care providers or family physicians. Youth might be reluctant to involve parents or to consult family physicians for health concerns related to substance use, emotional problems, or reproductive concerns. Primary health care service models need to support youth access to care and ensure that youth feel comfortable seeking care for all of their health concerns. School-based and community-based health care centres might be better positioned to meet the needs of youth than traditional office-based practices are. CONCLUSION There is a growing body of evidence on health service models that support effective and accessible delivery of health and mental health services for youth. The health needs and challenges of youth are often predictable. Available evidence highlights the importance of including youth experience and voices in planning, delivery, and evaluation of services.