American families were more likely to see a specialist after their child was Treat ADHD as a chronic condition, diagnosed with ADHD, especially if their Recommend stimulant medication and/or child was prescribed medication (Gardner behavior therapy, et al, 2004) Evaluate original diagnosis, adherence to treatment plan, and presence of coexist- Monastra (2005) surveyed families of 856 chil- ing conditions, dren with ADHD on the reasons that they post- Follow up with child and family periodically poned or discontinued the use of ADHD treat- to assess effects of treatment and ad- ment for their child.53 The most common reasons verse reactions to medication. (AAP included: ADHD guidelines). Fear of medication side effects, Lack of information about ADHD, Adherence to these guidelines among pediatri- Distrust in the brief assessment process cians and family physicians was examined in a that their child received for diagnosis, 2004 study and revealed that only 53% reported Development of side effects such as in- following the guideline regarding periodic follow- somnia or loss of appetite on medications. up to assess effects of treatment and adverse reactions. The study also found that family physi- Building off of these findings, some ways to im- cians (67.5%) reported significantly more fre- prove rates of follow up care for children pre- quent follow up compared with pediatricians scribed ADHD medication could be: (41.6%).52 Provide education, both verbal and writ- ten, to parents or caregivers on ADHD, Relatively few studies have examined factors treatment options, and importance of fol- associated with suboptimal follow up care for chil- low up dren prescribed ADHD medications. One study Address concerns of parents and children examined factors associated with overall follow- on ADHD medications including their side up care for children identified with ADHD, effects, and what to do if these arise whether or not they were prescribed medication, Provide training on the AAP ADHD clinical and found that: guidelines to pediatricians and family phy- Follow up visits with primary care provid- sicians ers were more common with those physi- cians that completed a fellowship that in- cluded mental health training Children receiving Medicaid were more likely to see specialists after being diag- nosed with ADHD
Treat ADHD as a chronic condition, Recommend stimulant medication and/or behavior therapy, Evaluate original diagnosis, adherence to treatment plan, and presence of coexist- ing conditions, Follow up with child and family periodically to assess effects of treatment and ad- verse reactions to medication. (AAP ADHD guidelines). Adherence to these guidelines among pediatri- cians and family physicians was examined in a 2004 study and revealed that only 53% reported following the guideline regarding periodic follow- up to assess effects of treatment and adverse reactions. The study also found that family physi- cians (67.5%) reported significantly more fre- quent follow up compared with pediatricians (41.6%).52 Relatively few studies have examined factors associated with suboptimal follow up care for chil- dren prescribed ADHD medications. One study examined factors associated with overall follow- up care for children identified with ADHD, whether or not they were prescribed medication, and found that: Follow up visits with primary care provid- ers were more common with those physi- cians that completed a fellowship that in- cluded mental health training Children receiving Medicaid were more likely to see specialists after being diag- nosed with ADHD American families were more likely to see a specialist after their child was diagnosed with ADHD, especially if their child was prescribed medication (Gardner et al, 2004) Monastra (2005) surveyed families of 856 chil- dren with ADHD on the reasons that they post- poned or discontinued the use of ADHD treat- ment for their child.53 The most common reasons included: Fear of medication side effects, Lack of information about ADHD, Distrust in the brief assessment process that their child received for diagnosis, Development of side effects such as in- somnia or loss of appetite on medications. Building off of these findings, some ways to im- prove rates of follow up care for children pre- scribed ADHD medication could be: Provide education, both verbal and writ- ten, to parents or caregivers on ADHD, treatment options, and importance of fol- low up Address concerns of parents and children on ADHD medications including their side effects, and what to do if these arise Provide training on the AAP ADHD clinical guidelines to pediatricians and family phy- sicians
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