title: Can a multi-disciplinary assessment approach improve outcomes for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Public, consumer and professional views about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, its assessment and treatment - especially with medication - remain a highly contested domain. Parents in particular express disquiet with services. One response to this tension is a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parental and education perceptions of this process have not been evaluated previously. A community multidisciplinary approach was assessed in terms of diagnostic outcomes and client satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive multidisciplinary structured assessment of the first 50 referred children with severe attentional problems was documented. Demographic and symptom/behavioural profiles, developmental history and indicated multi-disciplinary evaluation were recorded. A team consensus process arrived at diagnostic classification. Post-assessment satisfaction of parents and school staff was surveyed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen children (26%) were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and three commenced stimulants. The majority of parents and educators were satisfied with the service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary assessment clinic for children presenting with attention problems resulted in minimal prescribing. Overall, education staff and parents were satisfied with the service. The model may be a suitable response to the multiple concerns in the community.
authors.affiliation: Director, Kids in Mind Research, Mater Medical Research Institute, Mater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bor
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Honey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heussler
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrett
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology
keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; consumer satisfaction; multidisciplinary assessment