The promise of primary health reform for youth health

As in other nations,the Australian primary care sector represents the first port of call for most young people aged 12 to 24 years seeking health care. Australian young people are more likely to consult general practitioners (GPs) for support and counsel than other clinicians. This is especially the case for sensitive matters, like mental health issues. Seventy to ninety per cent of young people access primary care at least once a year, primarily for respiratory or dermatological concerns. GPs are therefore well-placed to promote youth health. As part of the primary care sector, GPs are responsible for promoting and reinforcing prevention, early intervention and connected care. In some Western nations, like the UK and Australia, they serve as the conduit to secondary and tertiary care, and thus moderate patient-flow within the health system. Despite government support for primary care and young people’s seeming acceptance of GPs, youth access to primary care remains limited. Recent research on GP activity throughout Australia suggests that patients aged 15 to 24 years account for approximately 8.6 percent of all encounters – yet young people represent 13.6 percent of the Australian population. This article reveals how recent policy developments and growing research on evidence-based youth health care provide a strong platform on which to promote youth health. This is achieved through a narrative review of recent Australian health.