Follow up with teens
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Follow up with clients of any age is important to help clients use birth control correctly and to return for needed services
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Research shows that one of the reasons people discontinue birth control is because they dislike the side effects. To address this issue with teens, teen clinics often have a nurse follow up with clients who start birth control. Nurses can answer teens' questions about their birth control method, provide reassurance about side effects and safety of birth control, as well as help teen problem solve difficulties they may have with using a method. Nurses also remind clients when their next depo provera shot is due. Teen clinic nurses also follow up with clients who are pregnant, have positive STD test results, have abnormal pap smears, who need repeat pregnancy tests, as well as other issues such as dating violence, and homelessness. Teen clinics include a contact sheet in each client's chart that is updated with each visit. In the exam room, staff confirm a safe number to call, whether it is okay to say that the teen clinic is calling, and whether it is okay to leave a message.
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