| Although the pre-participation physical examination (PPE) is the only physical exam many high school athletes will have, health care providers may not be using this occasion as an opportunity to screen, diagnose, treat, and educate about other adolescent health risks. The purpose of this study was to explore how effectively health care providers are screening high school athletes for both sports-related risks and those health problems specifically related to morbidity and mortality during adolescence.;A questionnaire was distributed to student athletes (N = 45) in two area high schools. Results suggest that health care providers who perform pre-participation physical examinations on high school athletes are missing opportunities to screen for adolescent-specific morbidity and mortality risk factors. Additionally, continuity of care and inappropriate health care provider concerns are raised. These findings indicate the need for further research to promote heightened awareness of adolescent health care, especially during the pre-participation sports physical examination where access to the teen is the provider's good fortune. |
