Parental knowledge of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and opinions of treatment options: Impact on enrolment and adherence to a 12-month treatment trial

Objective. This study examines the relationship between parents' knowledge of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and opinions of treatmen t and their impact on enrolment in and adherence to both pharmacological an d nonpharmacological interventions for children with ADHD. Method: Participants in the study were the parents of 81 children who reach ed diagnostic criteria for ADHD and who were referred to a treatment study of ADHD involving stimulant medication and parent groups. The mothers compl eted a modified version of the ADHD Knowledge and Opinion Scale (AKOS) prio r to receiving diagnostic feedback and prior to the families' decisions to participate in a 12-month randomized trial (medication [methylphenidate or placebo] and parent groups [training or support]). Treatment enrolment and adherence were monitored over the 12-month trial, and families who remained in the study at 12 months completed another modified AKOS. Results: A higher level of knowledge of ADHD was found to be related to mor e favourable opinions of parent groups but not of medication. Moreover, par ents who were,more knowledgeable about ADHD were more likely to enrol in bo th pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. Adherence to pharmaco logical and nonpharmacological treatments was not predicted by parental kno wledge of ADHD or opinions of the treatment. Conclusion: Parents' knowledge of ADHD and opinions of treatments play a si gnificant role in enrolment in treatments for their children with ADHD. Pro viding information to parents regarding ADHD prior to offering treatment mo dalities could have a favourable impact on treatment enrolment and hence tr eatment adherence.