Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: diagnostic assessment methods used by advanced practice registered nurses.
BACKGROUND
Children presenting with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have become highly prevalent in primary care practice; however, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) diagnostic methods used to identify and diagnose this disorder are greatly understudied.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify APRNs recognition and diagnostic practices of children who were suspected of having an ADHD diagnosis. It also addressed APRNs comfort levels with treating and diagnosing ADHD, along with certain diagnostic methods and their perceived accuracy of these methods.


METHODS
This nonexperimental exploratory research study used a self-administered questionnaire to gather information about diagnostic methods used by APRNs who diagnose children with ADHD, treat the disorder, or did both.


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaires identified that the APRNs were following the American Academy of Pediatrics diagnostic guidelines for diagnosing ADHD in children more closely than other health care providers (pediatricians and family physicians). The results of this study also indicated that most APRNs were very comfortable to comfortable making an ADHD diagnosis (52.5%), and 64.4% reported the same level of comfort with treating ADHD. These findings indicate that the majority of APRNs surveyed who works with children are comfortable with diagnosing and treating ADHD.
City Creek Pediatrics and Copper View Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Sheri Lynn
SL
Vlam
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000451:nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D019370:Observation; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014589:Utah