The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has successfully implemented the Adolescent Health Questionnaire (AHQ) in its primary care network. The AHQ is a standardized screening tool that helps identify adolescents who are at risk for mental health problems, substance abuse, and other health concerns.
Benefits of the AHQ
- Early identification of at-risk youth
- Improved access to mental health and other services
- Reduced stigma associated with mental health issues
- Increased parental involvement in their child’s health
Implementation Process
CHOP worked closely with its primary care providers to implement the AHQ. The hospital provided training on the questionnaire and its interpretation, as well as guidelines for referring patients to appropriate services.
The AHQ is now administered to all adolescents who visit a CHOP primary care clinic for a well-child checkup. The questionnaire is completed by the adolescent and reviewed by the provider. If the adolescent screens positive for any risk factors, the provider will discuss the results with the adolescent and their parents and refer them to appropriate services.
Results
The implementation of the AHQ has been successful in identifying adolescents who are at risk for mental health problems and other health concerns. In a study of over 1,000 adolescents who were screened with the AHQ, 20% screened positive for at least one risk factor.
The AHQ has also led to increased access to mental health and other services for adolescents. In the same study, 60% of adolescents who screened positive for a risk factor were referred to appropriate services.
Conclusion
The AHQ is a valuable tool for identifying adolescents who are at risk for mental health problems and other health concerns. The successful implementation of the AHQ by CHOP has improved access to care for adolescents and reduced the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Kind regards J. Greer.
Children’s health News & Trends
