title: Increasing teachers' knowledge about ADHD and learning disorders: an investigation on the role of a psychoeducational intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate elementary school teachers' baseline knowledge about ADHD and learning disorders (LD) and the impact of a strategy to increase awareness of these disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 37 teachers were selected from four elementary schools in the catchment area of the University Hospital, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. To evaluate teachers' knowledge, two self-report questionnaires about ADHD and LD were applied before and after an awareness program on these disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention significantly increased teachers' knowledge of both disorders, even after adjustment for confounding factors (p < .001). In the repeated measures ANCOVA, only teachers' previous knowledge of ADHD/LD (p < .001) was significant in predicting score change in knowledge before and after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest the efficacy of a brief psychoeducational intervention program for increasing teacher awareness and knowledge about ADHD and LD. Future studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy and evaluate the long-term impact of this intervention.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kieling
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neusa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chardosim
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Dorneles
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mazzuca
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kieling
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil lrohde@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; D001938:Brazil; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D005178:Faculty; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires