Electronic Screening of Risk Behaviors in Adolescents

Although screening for health risk behaviors is recommended as part of a pediatric visit, it is infrequently carried out. Behaviors that jeopardize health include substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and poor eating habits, among others.

To test whether administering an online tool to adolescents prior to a well visit can increase receipt of counseling for risk behaviors, researchers conducted a randomized, parallel-group, intervention study involving 300 adolescents aged 13–18 years and 1 parent per teen. Half of the participants were assigned to complete the Check Yourself screening tool prior to a well visit, and the other half to receive usual care for behavioral risk screening. The Check Yourself tool includes questions on 13 risk b…