By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Teens And STDs: 3 Best Practices For Mitigating Risk
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Teens And STDs: 3 Best Practices For Mitigating Risk
DiagnosticseHealthHospital AdministrationPublic Health

Teens And STDs: 3 Best Practices For Mitigating Risk

Larry Alton
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
Teens And STDs: 3 Best Practices For Mitigating Risk
SHARE

The past several years have brought positive changes in teen sexual practices. Teen pregnancy rates are at an all-time low and fewer teens are sexually active than in the recent past. One increasingly serious issue, however, is the rise in STD rates. Those teens who are sexually active are more likely to contract an STD and are unlikely to get tested and receive treatment.

Contents
Transforming “The Talk”Set TimelinesGo Mobile

Why is there such a gap between, for example, teen pregnancy and STD rates? A combination of abstinence-only sex education, which is proven to be ineffective, and limited access to testing facilities have increased the likelihood of infection. Additionally, teens are engaging in a wider array of sexual behaviors and may not use protection during those activities.

In order to reduce STD rates and improve teen health, providers need to find alternative ways to reach young patients, improve education, and reduce costs so that care is accessible. For many young people, traditional pediatric care and clinics just aren’t working.

Transforming “The Talk”

For many teens, the bulk of their sex education comes from a cursory parental talk and troves of misinformation from their peers. That’s why physicians need to be trained to spot opportunities for honest and informative sex ed that addresses their present concerns.

More Read

Image
Schmoozing for Cancer, Part II
It’s a Patient-Payer World
The HIPAA Police Are On Their Way!
How to Improve Healthcare: Address Super-Utilizers
Math Matters: Dosing Errors Can Be Deadly

Annual exams and sports physicals are an ideal time to ask questions about sexual activity, but there’s no guarantee that teens will answer you honestly. One way to increase the chances they’ll communicate is by making sure parents have left the room and asking open-ended questions. Be prepared for hypotheticals, questions posed as stories about friends as opposed to personal scenarios. The key is to be armed with facts and statistics to counter all of the false information teens get from their peers.

Finally, when it comes to primary care, doctors should consider offering teens the option of speaking with other providers within the practice. While continuity of care is a great thing, many teens see their pediatricians as proxies for their parents; they’ve been treated by them their whole lives. Seeing a different provider can help them open up about their experiences and concerns.

Set Timelines

Another way to encourage teens to seek STD testing is by communicating with them about appropriate testing timelines. For example, Milwaukee recently experienced a cluster of HIV and syphilis infections and even teens who are aware that they require STD testing may not understand the testing windows for different infections. According to the Health Testing Centers, individuals who have had unprotected sex should be tested 2-3 weeks after the encounter and then again after three months. HIV, in particular, can take up to 3 months to appear on tests, but teens tend to take one “all clear” as the final verdict.

When discussing testing timelines with young patients, it’s important to set up accessible follow-up appointments. Teens are not known for their follow-through; if they need to go to an inaccessible doctors office or need a parent to pay for an appointment, they’re even less likely to get additional tests.

Go Mobile

To bridge the gap between affordable, accessible STD care and current options, healthcare providers need to tune in to what teens themselves are saying. And one common request is for the widespread use of mobile health units. When young people have access to mobile health units at school or other community events and don’t have to miss class or contact a parent to receive sexual health care, they’re more likely to get regularly tested and receive follow-up care. With mobile health units, teens are empowered to make their own healthcare decisions.

Not only are mobile health care units easier for teens to access than traditional office visits, most recognize that these community care services are more affordable than traditional office visits. Teens frequently express that cost is one of the primary barriers to STD testing. Many don’t have jobs and if they don’t want to discuss their sexual behaviors with parents, then they similarly can’t ask for the money for testing. It’s a significant barrier, but hospitals are incentivized to provide these services because it reduces long-term care costs.

Teen STD rates have been on the rise for several years running and if we want to reverse course, doctors need to take action now. It’s time to listen to patient feedback and meet teens where they are. That could be outside their schools or community centers, at sporting events or town fairs. When STD testing is affordable and easy to access, teens are more than happy to undergo testing. They’ve been proactive about pregnancy. Give them the tools to take on STDs as well.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Add Interactivity to Your YouTube Channel: Annotate!

December 15, 2014
Health careMedical InnovationsPolicy & LawPublic HealthTechnology

Ending the Opioid Crisis: Could Big Data Help?

September 7, 2017
healthcare informatics
eHealthMedical RecordsTechnology

The Long Road to Digitization: A History of Healthcare Informatics [INFOGRAPHIC]

May 5, 2014
Disney Institute
BusinessHospital AdministrationWellness

Patient Satisfaction Delivered the Disney Way

March 3, 2016
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?