Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Nursing

Advisor(s)

Mary Tedesco-Schneck

Committee Members

Margaret Killinger, Kara O'Donnell, Jennifer Bonnet

Graduation Year

May 2023

Publication Date

Spring 2023

Abstract

Focus: PC is associated with positive health outcomes and reduced costs. Estimates of adolescents who transition from pediatric PC to adult PC is low; yet it is reported those who have positive experiences with PC are more likely to access PC as adults. Studies describing adolescents’ HS experience with PC and how it affected transition to adult PC are lacking. The purpose of this study was to describe university students’ experience with PC during their HS years and the impact on transition to adult PC.

Methods: This study is a descriptive, non-experimental design whereby students reported their HS PC experience and how it affected transition to adult PC once in college through an anonymous online survey. The survey included the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure and questions created by the principal investigator. Data were also collected from students without a PC in HS.

Results: 210 participants received PC in HS, 16 did not. Reasons for lack of PC included no local PC sites (31%), family did not believe in PC (18%), and no health insurance (18%). In lieu of PC, urgent care was ranked as 1st and 2nd choice (100%), emergency room care 2nd and 3rd choice (78%), and school health center 3rd choice (53%). Participants who received PC reported easy access to care (92%). Only 66% reported the primary care provider (PCP) knew them as a person, 67% felt the PCP would stand up for them, and 48% felt the PCP had knowledge of their community.

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