TY - CHAP AB - Abstract Adolescence is a time when a young person develops his or her identity, acquires greater autonomy and independence, experiments and takes risks and grows mentally and physically. To successfully navigate these changes, an accessible and health system when needed is essential.We assessed the structure and content of national primary care services against these standards in the field of adolescent health services. The main criteria identified by adolescents as important for primary care are as follows: accessibility, staff attitude, communication in all its forms, staff competency and skills, confidential and continuous care, age appropriate environment, involvement in health care, equity and respect and a strong link with the community.We found that although half of the Models of Child Health Appraised countries have adopted adolescent-specific policies or guidelines, many countries do not meet the current standards of quality health care for adolescents. For example, the ability to provide emergency mental health care or respond to life-threatening behaviour is limited. Many countries provide good access to contraception, but specialised care for a pregnant adolescent may be hard to find.Access needs to be improved for vulnerable adolescents; greater advocacy should be given to adolescent health and the promotion of good health habits. Adolescent health services should be well publicised, and adolescents need to feel empowered to access them. SN - 978-1-78973-354-9, 978-1-78973-351-8/ DO - 10.1108/978-1-78973-351-820191003 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-351-820191003 AU - Michaud Pierre-André AU - Vervoort Johanna P.M. AU - Jansen Danielle ED - Mitch Blair ED - Michael Rigby ED - Denise Alexander PY - 2019 Y1 - 2019/01/01 TI - Primary Care for Adolescents T2 - Issues and Opportunities in Primary Health Care for Children in Europe PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 237 EP - 246 Y2 - 2024/03/28 ER -