title: Communication about ADHD and its treatment during pediatric asthma visits.
abstract: The objectives of the study were to examine provider-family communication about attention deficit disorder during pediatric asthma visits. Children with asthma, aged 8 through 16 and their parents were recruited at five pediatric practices. All medical visits were audio-taped. There were 296 asthmatic children enrolled into the study and 67 of them also had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD communication elements suggested by national guidelines were discussed infrequently. Providers were more likely to discuss, educate, and ask one or more questions about ADHD medications if the visit was non-asthma related. Providers included child input into the ADHD treatment regimen during 3% of visits and they included parent input during 4.5% of visits. Only one child and three parents asked questions about ADHD. Providers may neglect essential aspects of good ADHD management and communication in children who have ADHD plus another chronic condition such as asthma. Providers should set appropriate treatment expectations, establish target symptoms, and encourage children and parents to ask questions so mutual decision-making can occur.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, 2214 Kerr Hall, CB#7573, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA, betsy_sleath@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sleath
authors.forename: Sandra H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sulzer
authors.forename: Delesha M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slota
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillette
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sayner
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants