Communicating With the Adolescent: Consent and Confidentiality Issues

Adolescents frequently use the emergency department (ED) for care; and those who seek access to care in EDs tend to report high rates of substance use, physical or sexual abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and mental health problems. Therefore, the ED functions as a strategic venue for behavioral health screening and interventions. However, to effectively screen for sensitive health conditions, privacy and confidentiality must be optimized, which can be particularly challenging in the ED setting. Given that adolescents in the ED represent a high-risk population, it is imperative that providers develop understanding and competency in strategies to effectively and confidentially obtain sensitive health information.