A Reading Program for Adolescents in a Primary Care Clinic

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the ongoing adolescent mental health crisis in part by disrupting connections to schools, communities, and primary care. Reading has been shown to support mental health by fostering identification with narratives, situations, or characters and promoting empathy. Inspired by Reach Out and Read, we developed Turning Pages, a program designed to enhance the clinic experience for adolescents by offering books during annual physicals in a primary care clinic. The clinic serves a diverse population of 1750 adolescent and young adult patients, with approximately 40% covered by California's Medicaid program. Patients and clinicians recommended books that were meaningful during their adolescence, and we partnered with a local bookshop to curate a diverse and inclusive collection. At the start of each visit, medical assistants invited patients to select a book and offered an optional survey assessing program impact. A total of 326 books were acquired through the support of various grants and donations. Between May 2023 and January 2024, 295 books were distributed to adolescent patients. Of the 65 patients who completed the survey, 98% appreciated receiving a book, 81% felt it improved their clinic experience, and 68% reported feeling more connected to their medical team. Institutional support and positive feedback from patients, clinicians, and staff have ensured ongoing funding for the program. Turning Pages demonstrates potential as a sustainable program that enhances the clinic experience and strengthens connections to care.