Development and clinician use of an algorithm to determine the need to screen female adolescents for polycystic ovary syndrome in the pediatric setting: A pilot study

Problem: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an under-diagnosed and under-reported hyperandrogenic syndrome that places the adolescent female (11 to 18 years old) at increased risk for metabolic abnormalities, endometrial carcinoma, and infertility. Despite these risks, no consensus exists as to how clinicians further evaluate adolescents for PCOS.;Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of using an algorithm to determine the need to screen adolescent females with menstrual irregularities for PCOS in the pediatric setting. A secondary purpose was to determine the reliability and validity of the algorithm. Thus, this study sought to answer these research questions: (a) Is the use of an algorithm by pediatric clinicians feasible and effective in determining the need to screen adolescent females with menstrual irregularities for PCOS in the pediatric setting?, and (b) Is the algorithm reliable and valid as a screening clinical decision tool in determining the need to screen for PCOS? (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).