Youth Views on Communication About ADHD and Medication Adherence

A pre-visit video/question prompt list intervention to increase youth question-asking about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder during pediatric visits

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an ADHD question prompt list with video intervention to increase youth question-asking and provider education about ADHD during visits.

METHODS

English-speaking youth ages 11-17 with ADHD and their caregivers were enrolled from two pediatric clinics. Youth were randomized to intervention or usual care groups. Intervention group adolescents watched the video and then completed an ADHD question prompt list before their visits. Multivariable regression was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Twenty-one providers and 102 of their patients participated. Intervention group youth were significantly more likely to ask one or more questions about ADHD and its treatment than usual care youth (odds ratio=5.4, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI)= 1.8, 15.9). Providers were significantly more likely to educate youth who asked one or more questions during visits about more ADHD medication areas (unstandardized beta=0.98, 95 % CI=0.31 to 1.64) and more non-medication strategies for ADHD (unstandardized beta=0.50, 95 % CI=0.13 to 0.88).

CONCLUSION

The intervention increased youth question-asking about ADHD and its treatment. Providers provided more education to youth who asked one or more questions about ADHD and its treatment.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Providers and practices should consider having youth complete ADHD question prompt lists and watch the video before visits to increase youth question-asking during visits.

Adherence Rates and Barriers to Second-Generation Antipsychotic Medication Use in Youth with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders Who Have Overweight/Obesity

Objective: Youth with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) are frequently prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Nonadherence to treatment often results in increased mood symptoms and diminished quality of life. We examined SGA adherence rates and adherence barriers among youth who have overweight/obesity and are diagnosed with BSD enrolled in a multisite pragmatic clinical trial. Methods: SGA adherence and adherence barriers at baseline via patient- and caregiver report was assessed. Adherence was defined as taking ≥70% of prescribed SGA doses in the past week. The weighted Kappa statistic was used to measure child-caregiver agreement about adherence rates, barriers, and caregiver assistance. Regression analyses were used to examine associations of caregiver assistance, age, sex, race, insurance status, dosing frequency, and number of concomitant medications with adherence. Barriers to adherence were analyzed separately for youth and their caregivers, using logistic regression to assess associations between informant-reported barriers and informant-reported adherence. Results: Participants included 1485 patients and/or caregivers. At baseline, 88.6% of patients self-reported as adherent; 92.0% of caregivers reported their child was adherent. Concordance between patients and caregivers was moderate (k = 0.42). Approximately, 50% of the sample reported no adherence barriers. Frequently endorsed barriers included forgetting, side effects, being embarrassed to take medications, and preferring to do something else. Concordance between informants regarding adherence barriers was weak (k = 0.05-0.36). Patients and caregivers who did not endorse adherence barriers reported higher adherence than those who endorsed barriers. Male sex and having once daily dosing of medications were associated with lower adherence. Discussion: One-week patient- and caregiver-reported adherence was high in this sample. Half of the sample reported adherence barriers. Most commonly endorsed barriers were forgetting, side effects, being embarrassed, and preferring to do something else. Caregivers and patients have unique perspectives regarding adherence barriers. Understanding and addressing treatment barriers in clinical practice may facilitate adherence.

Practitioner Review: It's time to bridge the gap - understanding the unmet needs of consumers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - a systematic review and recommendations

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the unmet needs of healthcare consumers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (individuals with ADHD and their caregivers) provides critical insight into gaps in services, education and research that require focus and funding to improve outcomes. This review examines the unmet needs of ADHD consumers from a consumer perspective.

METHODS

A standardised search protocol identified peer-reviewed studies published between December 2011 and December 2021 focusing on consumer-identified needs relating to ADHD clinical care or research priorities.

RESULTS

1,624 articles were screened with 23 studies that reviewed examining the needs of ADHD consumers from Europe, the U.K., Hong Kong, Iran, Australia, the U.S.A. and Canada. Consumer-identified needs related to: treatment that goes beyond medication (12 studies); improved ADHD-related education/training (17 studies); improved access to clinical services, carer support and financial assistance (14 studies); school accommodations/support (6 studies); and ongoing treatment efficacy research (1 study).

CONCLUSION

ADHD consumers have substantial unmet needs in clinical, psychosocial and research contexts. Recommendations to address these needs include: improving access to and quality of multimodal care provision; incorporating recovery principles into care provision; fostering ADHD health literacy; and increasing consumer participation in research, service development and ADHD-related training/education.

Reported Side or Adverse Effects Associated with Medication Nonadherence Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine what side effects were most associated with medication nonadherence as reported by adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: A combination of multiple linear regression and chi-square automatic interaction detection techniques were utilized in analyzing the survey data responses of 157 adolescents and young adults with ADHD. Results: The mean number of side effects reported was M = 10.33 side effects with 77% of the sample reporting at least one side effect. In aggregate, the number or severity of side effects were not significantly associated with medication nonadherence. Rather, it was the severity of particular side effects, upset stomach and vomiting, which were significantly associated with medication nonadherence. Conclusions: Health care providers should utilize this information as an indicator that medication nonadherence will be an issue when these side effects are present.

Examining the Unified Theory of Behavior Change Constructs Among Adolescents Taking Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medicine: A Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

To quantitatively validate the preintention factors, behavioral intentions, and implementation factors and examine the relationships theorized by the Unified Theory of Behavior Change (UTBC) model among adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS

We conducted longitudinal analyses of data from 40 adolescents with ADHD, aged 11 to 15 years old, and their parents, including self-report of UTBC constructs using standardized measures. We collected pharmacy dispensing records for adolescents for the 4 months that followed. We used bivariate correlations to examine relationships between medication continuity, behavioral intentions, preintention factors, and the implementation factors. We conducted paired sample t-tests to compare adolescent and parent responses on UTBC items.

RESULTS

Adolescents (mean [standard deviation {SD}] age = 13.3 [1.2] years, 75% male, 77.5% non-Hispanic Black, 90% publicly insured) reported a mean total ADHD symptom score = 29.8/54 (SD = 10.94) and mean total impairment score = 18.7/52 (SD = 10.90) and had a mean percentage of days covered with medicine over 4 months = 0.21 (range = 0-0.97). Adolescent intention to take ADHD medicine every school day was significantly related to adolescents' subsequent medication continuity (r = 0.37, P < .05). Adolescent self-concept/image and confidence taking ADHD medicine were the most important factors related to the intention to take ADHD medicine every school day. Adolescents reported less belief and intention to take ADHD medicine and more barriers to taking ADHD medicine compared to their parents.

CONCLUSION

The UTBC model shed light on factors related to subsequent medication use, providing a plausible mechanism for additional research to intervene to promote future medication continuity.

Why young people stop taking their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication: A thematic analysis of interviews with young people

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that can persist into adulthood. Young people often stop taking ADHD medication during adolescence despite evidence that continuation would be beneficial. Increasingly, young people are restarting medication in early adulthood suggesting that cessation was premature. In this paper we explore the reasons given by young people for discontinuing ADHD medication.

METHODS

Qualitative data from the Children and Adolescents with ADHD in Transition between Children's and Adult Services (CATCh-uS) project was analysed to look for reasons for stopping medication. Semi-structured interviews with three groups of young people were analysed using thematic and framework analysis; this included young people prior to transition (n = 21); young people that had successfully transitioned to adult services (n = 22); and young people who left children's services prior to transition but re-entered adult services later (n = 21).

RESULTS

Reasons given by young people for stopping ADHD medication included the following: the perceived balance between benefits and adverse effects of medication; perceptions of ADHD as a childhood or educational disorder; life circumstance of the young person and challenges young people faced in accessing services.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidimensional approach is needed to address discontinuation of ADHD medication in order to improve the long-term prospects and quality of life for these young people. Possible approaches include access to non-pharmacological treatments and improved psychoeducation. As many reasons given by young people are not unique to ADHD, these findings are also of relevance to medication adherence in other chronic childhood conditions.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Adherence in the Transition to Adulthood: Associated Adverse Outcomes for Females and Other Disparities

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication adherence and adverse health outcomes in older adolescents transitioning to adulthood.

METHODS

In a cohort of 17-year-old adolescents with ADHD at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we assessed medication adherence (medication possession ratio ≥70%) and any medication use and associations with adverse outcomes at 18 and 19 years of age. We conducted bivariate tests of association and multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Adherence declined from 17 to 19 years of age (36.7%-19.1%, p < .001). Non-white race/ethnicity, lower estimated income, and male sex were associated with nonadherence. Model results show nonadherent females experienced several adverse outcomes: Adherence at 18 years of age (referent: nonadherence) was associated with lower odds of pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: .13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .03-.54). Any use (referent: nonuse) at 18 years of age was associated with lower odds of sexually transmitted infections among females (AOR: .39, 95% CI: .19-.83), pregnancies (AOR: .26, 95% CI: .13-.50), emergency department visits (AOR: .69, 95% CI: .55-.85), and greater odds of injuries (AOR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.32). Adherence at 19 years of age was associated with lower odds of pregnancy (AOR: .13, 95% CI: .02-.95). Any use at 19 years of age was associated with lower odds of injury in females (AOR: .77, 95% CI: .60-.99) pregnancy (AOR: .35, 95% CI: .16-.78), and, in both sexes, substance use (AOR: .71, 95% CI: .55-.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Late adolescence is associated with decline in ADHD medication use and adherence. ADHD medication adherence and any ADHD medication use is associated with fewer adverse health outcomes, particularly in females.

Adolescent Preferences Regarding a Web Site to Empower Adolescents to Talk With Their Healthcare Providers

PURPOSE

Adolescents experience challenges managing their chronic conditions, partly owing to limited involvement in medical visits. Because adolescents are "digital natives," providing a specific Web site with educational resources may support better adolescent-provider communication. Our purpose was to determine adolescents' opinions about a health communication-focused Web site.

METHODS

Sixty English-speaking adolescents aged 11-17 years with a chronic health condition (mean age: 13.3 years; SD 1.9) were enrolled at a pediatric clinic in rural North Carolina.

RESULTS

Adolescents most commonly accessed YouTube and Google for online health information. Nearly all adolescents supported the creation of a Web site and resources on how to communicate with their healthcare provider. Adolescents most often wanted to talk to specialists about their health and to pharmacists about their medications.

CONCLUSIONS

A Web site and educational resources are currently being codeveloped with adolescents. It is essential that we find ways to engage adolescents in their healthcare management.

Impact of the Guided Self-Determination Intervention among Adolescents with Co-Existing ADHD and Medical Disorder: A Mixed Methods Study

Adolescents with ADHD are at increased risk of having a co-existing medical disorder. Research shows that having co-existing ADHD and a medical disorder interferes with the adolescents' daily life, creating a dual task that cannot be managed as two independent disorders. Interventions to support adolescents in managing the dual task of living with co-existing ADHD and medical disorder are needed. The Guided-Self-Determination intervention might be suitable for this population, as it is an empowerment-based intervention facilitating patient involvement and self-management of a disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the Guided Self-Determination intervention impacted 10 adolescents with ADHD and a co-existing medical disorder. The study used a convergent mixed methods design. Quantitative data measuring support from nurses, support from parents, and self-management were collected though self-reported questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months and were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data capturing the adolescents' experiences of the intervention and the intervention's impact on support from nurses, parents, and self-management were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. Results of the quantitative and qualitative analyses were integrated in a mixed methods analysis. The integrated results suggest that this intervention may improve adolescents' management of the difficulties of living with co-existing ADHD and a medical disorder, and that self-insight and nurse support are prerequisites for developing self-management strategies. However, the results showed that the intervention did not impact parental support. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of the intervention on a larger scale.

Editorial: A Spoonful of Injury Prevention Makes the ADHD Medicine Go Down

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of disability and mortality in youths across the United States¹ and globally.² Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with an increased rate of unintentional injuries in multiple countries, as reviewed in a recent meta-analysis of studies in youths.³ The study by Ghirardi et al.⁴ in this issue of the Journal adds to this literature by examining this issue within stratifications of injury and of characteristics of youths with ADHD.⁴ The authors accessed a very large sample (nearly 2 million youths) drawn from the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters databases. They identified all youths in the databases with a diagnosis of ADHD or receiving an ADHD medication prescription from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2014, who presented to an emergency department with unintentional injuries. To determine the differential rate of unintentional injuries, they used a case-control methodology to compare youths with a diagnosis of ADHD or an ADHD medication with a control group of youths without an ADHD diagnosis or treatment matched on a variety of characteristics. Results of the population comparison not only supported the overall association, but also demonstrated an increased rate of unintentional injuries for both boys and girls and that youths with ADHD had higher rates of traumatic brain injury compared with matched control youths without ADHD.⁴.

Adolescents' Perceptions of Living With Co-Existing ADHD and Medical Disorder in Denmark

AIM

The study aim was to explore adolescents' with co-existing ADHD and medical disorder (MD) perceptions of everyday life and support from parents and healthcare professionals.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In this qualitative study, 10 adolescents aged 13-17 years diagnosed with ADHD and a MD were included from a general pediatric hospital clinic and a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital clinic. Data obtained through semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The adolescents' perceptions were categorized into four themes: 1) ADHD perceived as part of the adolescent's self-understanding - yet with daily frustrations, 2) MD perceived as an interruption in everyday life, 3) ADHD and MD - an overlooked dual task, and 4) the need for supportive relationships in navigating ADHD and MD.

CONCLUSION

Living with co-existing ADHD and MD is a complex dual task, as ADHD and MD interfere with each other in everyday life. However, the adolescents overlook the dual task as they believe their difficulties would be resolved if the MD was eliminated. Moreover, supportive relationships are essential in navigating the complexities in living with co-existing ADHD and MD. Nevertheless, the adolescents take a passive role in the encounters with the healthcare professionals, whereas they are more active in encounters with peers, parents and teachers.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Healthcare professionals treating and caring for adolescents with co-existing ADHD and MD need interventions facilitating patient involvement in a patient-centered approach to support both adolescents and healthcare professionals in recognizing the dual task of having co-existing ADHD and MD.

A Review of Factors Influencing the Three Phases of Medication Adherence in People with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives: Factors affecting adherence to medications in people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not well understood in the context of their influence on the different phases of adherence, that is, initiation, implementation, and discontinuation. This review aimed to identify the factors affecting the three phases of medication adherence in people with ADHD. Methods: Six electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, IPA, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO, were systematically searched from inception through October 2018 with the limitations of English language and human studies. The search strategy was based on three concepts (adherence, ADHD, and factors) and their relevant terminologies. Results: Considerable variability was observed with regards to the criteria used to define adherence in identified studies (n = 48). Most studies focused on the implementation phase of adherence (n = 27), while only a handful focused on the initiation (n = 6) and discontinuation (n = 5) phase of adherence. The remaining studies (n = 10) examined multiple phases of adherence. Conflicting information received about medication, medication frequency, and fears of medication's effect on growth were the unique factors impacting initiation, implementation, and discontinuation, respectively. Moreover, factors within each phase of adherence also differed with different populations such as parents, children, adolescents, and adults. Fear of addiction, medication effectiveness, psychiatric comorbidity, and medication side effects were the most common factors identified in all three phases of adherence. Conclusions: This review found some unique factors in each phase of adherence while some overlap was also noted. Future interventions to improve adherence should be phase- and group specific rather than consider adherence as a single variable.

Factors Associated with Treatment Adherence in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder in children. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to treatment adherence in children with ADHD.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done in 118 children (aged 6-12 years) with ADHD who have been on medications for at least 6 months. The patients were selected based on the convenience sampling method from those who were referred to child psychiatry clinic. Medication Adherence Report Scale, Belief about Medicines Questionnaire specific version, and Children Symptom Inventory-4 were completed by parents and teachers.

FINDINGS

Medication adherence had significant negative correlation with inattention scores on teacher-report forms (r = -0.27, P= 0.003) and poor economic status (P = 0.03). There was a positive correlation between medication adherence and history of psychopharmacological treatment in the family (P = 0.01), and father's education level (P = 0.001). Treatment adherence had no significant correlation with age, gender, comorbid disorders, mother's education, family history of ADHD, medication side effects, or parental concerns and beliefs about the necessity of drug use.

CONCLUSION

The factors found to have a correlation with adherence should be taken in to account by clinicians so that adherence can be improved in their patients.

"When I Stop My Medication, Everything Goes Wrong": Content Analysis of Interviews with Adolescent Patients Treated with Psychotropic Medication

OBJECTIVES

Medication nonadherence constitutes a major problem in adolescent psychiatry. Previous studies have identified various factors associated with nonadherent behavior. The aim of this study is to explore adolescents' health beliefs and subjective perceptions relating to psychotropic medication, and to statistically link these to reported medication adherence.

METHODS

The findings presented in this study are part of the multicenter SEMA study (Subjective Experience and Medication Adherence in Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders). Patients 12-18 years of age were included, who had been treated with a psychotropic medication for at least 2 weeks. The validated MARS (Medication Adherence Rating Scale) and the QATT (Questionnaire on Attitudes Toward Treatment) were used to measure adherence, and a qualitative semi-structured interview was conducted to examine patients' subjective experiences and perceptions. A conventional content analysis was conducted, and Fisher's exact tests were performed to analyze group differences between completely adherent and not completely adherent patients.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients were included in the study. 40.6% (n = 26) were classified as not completely adherent. Distribution patterns of answers to 7 out of 64 questions showed statistically significant group differences between completely and not completely adherent patients. Patients with lower adherence reported the following: feeling worse after taking medication; a lower sense of self-efficacy concerning the improvement of their symptoms; a less trustful physician-patient relationship; a worsened attitude toward medication after experiencing adverse events/"side effects"; less support from their relatives; and fewer individuals in their family who were fully informed about their condition.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first interview-based study to investigate subjective experiences and health beliefs of adolescents with psychiatric disorders and to correlate these findings with rates of medication adherence. The study results will be useful for the development of tools and approaches to increase medication adherence, for example, psychoeducation programs and personalized treatment concepts.