Publication:

Admission patterns and care experiences of adolescents in a tertiary facility in South India: a mixed methods study

Background Adolescents face unique health challenges often under-recognized in tertiary care. Understanding their hospitalization patterns and care experiences is vital for designing responsive services. This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic and clinical profile of hospitalized adolescents in a tertiary centre in southern India and explore their care experiences, expectations, and recommendations.

Methods A concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted in 2022. The quantitative component analysed hospital records of 21,391 adolescent inpatients (aged 10–19 years) from 2017 to 2021. A stratified subsample (N=1250) was assessed for diagnosis and outcomes. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with five adolescents admitted to general medicine and surgery departments. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics 27; qualitative data were thematically analysed using Picker’s principles of patient-centred care.

Results Adolescents made up 6.2% of total admissions. Late adolescents (16–19 years) formed 51.1% of this group, with a female predominance due to obstetric cases. Leading causes of admission included injuries and poisoning (15.6%), obstetric complications (15.5%), and genitourinary conditions (9.1%). Highest mortality rates were noted in neuroscience (6.6%), plastic surgery (5.6%), and internal medicine (5.5%) departments. Qualitative findings revealed appreciation for staff behaviour and cleanliness but identified gaps in communication, privacy, emotional support, and shared decision-making.

Conclusions This mixed method study aims to describe the causes of adolescent hospital admissions, and determine the gaps between requirements and provision of adolescent healthcare in tertiary care centres, thus furnishing a holistic report on adolescent hospitalization.