Discrepancies Between ADHD Guideline Recommendations and Community Practice

Findings indicate poor adherence with recommendations and suggest the need for significant improvements.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the neurobehavioral disorder most frequently diagnosed by primary care pediatricians. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics developed an evidenced-based guideline to encourage a high quality of diagnosis and treatment (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Nov 16 2011), evidence suggests poor compliance with recommendations.

To evaluate adherence to the guideline by community pediatricians, researchers reviewed medical records of 1594 patients assessed and/or treated for ADHD between 2002 and 2012 by one of 188 pediatricians in 50 pediatrics practices in Ohio. Results were as follows:

Pediatricians used parent and teacher ADHD rating scales in 57% and 56%, respectively, of diagnostic evaluations.…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics