title: Service use in children aged 6-8 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated prevalence, types and predictors of professional service use in families of children identified with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  children with ADHD were identified through 43 schools using parent and teacher screening questionnaires (Conners 3 ADHD Index) followed by case confirmation using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV. Parents completed a survey about professional service use in the last 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  data on variables potentially associated with service use were collected from parents (interview and questionnaires), teachers (questionnaires) and children (direct assessment). Logistic regression was used to examine predictors of service use in univariate and multivariable analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 179 children aged 6-8 years with ADHD. Over one-third (37%) had not received professional services in the last 12 months. The strongest predictors of service use were older child age (adjusted OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.9, p=0.05), and the degree to which the child's behaviour impacted on the family (adjusted OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.3, p=0.007), after controlling for ADHD subtype and severity, externalising comorbidities, academic achievement and parent-reported impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of children with ADHD are not accessing professional services. Our findings suggest that the child's age and the impact of the child's behaviour on the family are the strongest predictors of service use. Given the demonstrated benefits from various interventions in ADHD, there is a need to improve case identification and referral for services.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moisuc
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciberras
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Comm Child Health; Neurodevelopment