Effects of a Primary Care-Based Engagement Intervention for Improving Use of ADHD Treatments

Abstract

Introduction: Uptake of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments is low in primary care. A quasi-experimental study assessed the impact of a primary care-based engagement intervention to improve ADHD treatment use.

Method: Families of children with ADHD from four pediatric clinics were invited to participate in a two-stage intervention. The first step was an assessment battery to assess functioning and identify goals, followed by an in-office engagement session run by primary care staff.

Results: Of the 636 invited families, 184 (28.9%) completed ratings, with 95 (51%) families completing the engagement session. ADHD office visits varied based on the number of steps completed (0-2). ADHD prescriptions decreased over time in families completing neither step but increased for children previously unmedicated whose parents completed either step. Families completing both steps had the highest rates of nonmedication ADHD treatments.

Discussion: A brief two-step engagement intervention was associated with increased uptake of ADHD treatments.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; adolescents; children; engagement; primary care.