Focus on preventive health care for young adults

摘要

As Ozer and colleagues have demonstrated, there are evidence-based guidelines that can inform preventive health care for young adults. However, in their current forms, research suggests that these guidelines are not being widely used and that gains in preventive health care for young adults are not being efficiently made.114 These findings parallel the larger issue for young adult health. There are substantial opportunities and compelling urgency to improve health care delivery and health outcomes for the young adult population. Searching the literature generated by scientists from a number of disciplines yields important data on young adults and their unique attributes, behavioral risks, and morbidity and mortality.15-16 In addition, new policies such as the Affordable Care Act hold the possibility of improving health insurance coverage and hopefully improving access to health care for the young adult population in the United States.1' Yet, a focused strategy to improve young adult health cannot be found. Establishing young adult preventive health care guidelines could create an important and timely focal point for health professionals, scientists, policy makers, and the public to develop that strategy.