Objective: To understand the services offered at a youth clinic as a site specializing in youth sexual health services, and the implications of this model for young people's well-being.
Design: Qualitative research plan that follows the principles of grounded theory.
Setting: A youth clinic located in an urban neighbourhood in Montréal, Que.
Participants: The participants in this study were young patients, aged 18 to 23, accessing the clinic and the health care providers supporting them at the clinic. The clinic's interdisciplinary team consisted of family physicians, nurses, a sexologist, a social worker, and a receptionist. All members of the clinic team (n=8) and 8 youth patients were interviewed.
Methods: Semistructured interview methods were used with the youth participants and health care providers. Youth participants were recruited using convenience sampling.
Main findings: The primary results are divided into 3 components: the composition of the interdisciplinary team, with particular attention to the co-location of the team members; particular conditions at youth clinics, notably the presence of a receptionist on the team, financial coverage for certain prescriptions, and longer consultation times allowing for an educational component; and young people's positive perceptions of these services.
Conclusion: Considered together, the characteristics of a youth clinic promote access to youth sexual health services on several levels. The findings encourage general practitioners to collaborate with services connected to family medicine when supporting young people's sexual health.
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