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Pediatrician Study
Objective: Results from the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA) suggest 1) the importance of pharmacological treatments in a comprehensive treatment plan for children with ADHD and 2) that treatment with medication by community treatment providers is not as effective as the MTA medication treatment procedures (e.g., titration trials and periodic medication monitoring). Numerous obstacles exist for most primary care pediatricians that impede implementation of evidence–based practice procedures such as those in the MTA.
Method: An innovative intervention consisting of a university–based consultative model (CM) which provides educational, support, and consultative services to pediatricians was implemented and tested. Twelve pediatric practices were randomly assigned to receive access to the CM or to a control group.
Results: Based upon the self-report of pediatricians, the CM increased the use evidence–based practices by pediatricians. No differences in children’s ADHD symptomatology were observed between the groups. Unfortunately, many pediatricians did not fully utilize the CM services. When children who actually received CM services were examined separately, there was significant behavioral improvement in these children compared to children not receiving these services.
Conclusions: The CM appears to be an effective method for facilitating pediatrician’s use of several components of evidence based treatment procedures for AD ⁄ HD and use of these procedures appear to improve children’s outcomes. The feasibility of disseminating the CM to a more widespread sample of pediatricians remains to be determined.
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