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 treatment and their impact on enrolment in and adherence to both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for children with ADHD. Method: Participants in the study were the parents of 81 children who reached diagnostic criteria for ADHD and who were referred to a treatment study of ADHD involving stimulant medication and parent groups. The mothers completed a modified version of the ADHD Knowledge and Opinion Scale (AKOS) prior 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 more favourable opinions of parent groups but not of medication. Moreover, parents who were,more knowledgeable about ADHD were more likely to enrol in both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. Adherence to pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments was not predicted by parental knowledge of ADHD or opinions of the treatment. Conclusion: Parents' knowledge of ADHD and opinions of treatments play a significant role in enrolment in treatments for their children with ADHD. Providing information to parents regarding ADHD prior to offering treatment modalities could have a favourable impact on treatment enrolment and hence treatment adherence.