There’s no escaping the fact: Adolescents and teens with rheumatic disorders see pediatric rheumatologists more than any other kind of doctor, which leaves the onus on these specialists to manage difficult risky behavior among their young patients. Besides, the parents expect as much, according to a 2000 study published in the Archives of Pediatrics.
It's an uneasy assignment, according to the same study.
At a session devoted to this topic at the American College of Rheumatology meeting, adolescent medicine specialists offered insights and tips for rheumatologists on addressing issues such as smoking, substance abuse, and sex among those rheumatology patients at greatest risk for complications from such behaviors.
For the details, see Sex and Other Risks: Caring for Teens in Pediatric Rheumatology, published on November 11, 2012.
