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Youth Views on Communication About ADHD and Medication Adherence

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine youth perceptions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) communication with their pediatric providers, their reported adherence to their ADHD medications, and their desired location for an ADHD educational program. Youth ages 7 through 17 with an ADHD diagnosis were recruited. A research associate interviewed the youth. Parents completed demographic questionnaires. Seventy families participated. One-third of the youth wanted more discussion about ADHD with their providers during visits. The average youth had over eight questions about ADHD and its treatment. Most youth wanted to learn about ADHD at their provider’s office. Non-white and older youth were significantly more likely to be less adherent to their ADHD medications. Youth want their providers to engage them more during visits. Providers should take advantage of this interest to engage youth more in discussions regarding ADHD and its treatment during pediatric ADHD visits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7573, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7573, USA

    Betsy Sleath

  2. Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7573, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7573, USA

    Delesha M. Carpenter, Robyn Sayner & Adam Sage

  3. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7573, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7573, USA

    Kathleen Thomas

  4. Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 2406 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA

    Larry Mann

  5. Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1100 Delaplaine Ct., Madison, WI, 53715-1896, USA

    Sandra H. Sulzer

  6. Olson Huff Center, Mission Health System, 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Asheville, NC, 28803, USA

    Adrian D. Sandler

  7. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Adrian D. Sandler

Authors
  1. Betsy Sleath
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  2. Delesha M. Carpenter
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  3. Robyn Sayner
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  4. Kathleen Thomas
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  5. Larry Mann
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  6. Adam Sage
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  7. Sandra H. Sulzer
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  8. Adrian D. Sandler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Betsy Sleath.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. All authors certify responsibility for this article.

Research Involving Human and Animal Rights

The study was performed in accordance with the tenants of the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and was HIPAA compliant. This study was approved by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institutional Review Board and was conducted with the human subjects’ understanding and consent.

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Sleath, B., Carpenter, D.M., Sayner, R. et al. Youth Views on Communication About ADHD and Medication Adherence. Community Ment Health J 53, 438–444 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0078-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0078-3

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