Web Based Tools to Improve Medication Continuity in Adolescents With ADHD

Summary

Medication is an efficacious treatment strategy for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however use significantly declines during adolescence when the consequences of ADHD are most severe (e.g. dropping out of school, delinquency, etc.). The Unified Theory of Behavior Change (UTBC) has been proposed as a conceptual model to explain the mechanism underlying ADHD medication adherence and to guide the development of interventions to improve the continuity of treatment. The UTBC is a well-established and empirically tested model that identifies factors that influence an individual's intention to perform a behavior as well as factors that influence whether a behavior is actually carried out. Indeed, the research team's preliminary data support the relevance of pre-intention factors and implementation factors for medication continuity among adolescents with ADHD. Currently, no evidence-based interventions target medication continuity for adolescents with ADHD. The objective of this study is to test a multi-component intervention that systematically identifies and targets aspects of the UTBC model most relevant for each adolescent with poor ADHD medication continuity. The central hypothesis is that the tailored intervention will support ADHD medication continuity. The study will objectively test the central hypothesis by conducting a randomized controlled trial among adolescents with poor medication continuity to test whether the intervention engages the mechanism underlying medication continuity and improves outcomes.

Conditions

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Adherence, Medication

Interventions

OTHER

Mehealth for ADHD software with medication continuity tools

Medication continuity tools integrated within the mehealth for ADHD software will assess factors influencing medication continuity for each adolescent and recommend tools to address relevant factors. Tools include 1) a system to track outcomes and resolve uncertainty about the need for and/or benefit from medicine, 2) a module to address stigma, 3) a module to help manage side effects, and 4) reminders to take medicine and/or request refills.

OTHER

Mehealth for ADHD software with no medication continuity tools

The mehealth for ADHD software has multiple functionalities including 1) online training regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ADHD guidelines; 2) an ADHD workflow wizard that guides pediatricians through the creation of an efficient office workflow to deliver quality ADHD care; 3) online collection of parent- and teacher-report ADHD rating scales for the assessment of ADHD as well as monitoring response to medication treatment; 4) integrated algorithms that automatically score rating scales in real time and provide pediatricians with assessment and treatment reports as well as immediate warnings; 5) an online pediatrician "report card"; and 6) a Plan-Do-Study-Act wizard that allows pediatricians to select a practice behavior to improve based on their report card and guides them through the creation of small tests of change to improve their office systems.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

11 Years

Max Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-06-01

Primary Completion

2021-02-16

Completion

2021-05-24

Countries

• United States

Study Locations