Teenagers Like Electronic Media for Screenings and Follow-Up

The proliferation of electronic medical records, tablets, and cell phones offers new opportunities for adolescents to complete health behavior screening questionnaires before clinical appointments. Investigators surveyed 115 adolescents (age range, 12–18 years; 59% female; 51% white) receiving primary care in university-based clinics about their preferences for completing a pre-visit behavioral risk screening module and for receiving follow-up information after appointments.

Participants reported the highest levels of comfort and honesty answering screening questions via electronic media (90% and 89%, respectively) versus with a provider (77% and 74%) or by paper (57% and 61%). Most preferred to complete screening in the waiting room using a…