ABSTRACT
Effective communication skills with adolescents are important for all health-care providers, both to optimize health outcomes, and to improve patient experiences. These skills are critical in eliciting a history and making a diagnosis. Further, a patient who does not understand the management plan is less likely to follow instructions, or return for recommended follow-up. 1 Communication style should be tailored to the patient. Adolescents have unique expectations, communication styles, and lifestyle practices that warrant specific attention. We review the adolescent developmental stages relevant to social behaviors that impact provider-patient communication. In addition, we provide examples of communication styles that could be particularly effective for interactions with this patient population.
For the purpose of simplification and readability, the authors use she/her pronouns when referring to adolescent gynecology patients. We recognize the importance of honoring the gender identity of all patients, and recommend asking and using the patient's preferred pronouns in daily practice. Details regarding this practice are beyond the scope of this chapter. Recommendations regarding care for transgender and gender nonconforming patients can be found in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2011 Committee Opinion 2 and Chapter 7.
