Improving ADHD Behavioral Care

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: ADHD

Treatments: Other: Behavioral tools integrated within mehealth for ADHD software; Other: mehealth for ADHD

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT03628781

R18HS024690

Details and patient eligibility

About

Though the most effective treatment for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) consists of combined medication and behavioral strategies, the vast majority of children with ADHD are treated with medication only. One reason for the low rates of behavioral treatment is that primary care pediatricians, not mental health professionals, are responsible for treating the vast majority of children with ADHD. The investigators have developed, tested, and are beginning to disseminate web-based software (mehealth for ADHD) that has been shown in randomized clinical trials to improve the quality of ADHD medication care delivered by pediatricians. The goal of the proposed study is to develop and test the integration of behavioral tools into the evidence-based myadhdportal.com software in order to improve access to behavioral treatment strategies, and ultimately improve outcomes for children with ADHD. The automated algorithms and decision rules the investigators have developed for creating and monitoring the behavioral tools ensure that behavioral treatments like daily report cards and token economies are delivered in a manner that is consistent with the evidence-base. The investigators are conducting a cluster randomized controlled trial in community pediatric settings to test whether integration of the behavioral tools into the myADHDportal.com software (1) increases rates of behavioral treatment; (2) facilitates better integrity of behavioral interventions when implemented; (3) improves functional impairment in children with ADHD; and (4) generates higher satisfaction with ADHD care. By continuing to expand the functionality of the myADHDportal.com software, the investigators are increasing patients' access to evidence-based care. This is especially critical for rural and underserved communities who have no or limited access to evidence-based mental health services. Moreover, by putting these behavioral tools in the hands of parents, teachers, and pediatricians, the investigators are making it more likely that children will receive a high quality of care that includes both medication management and behavioral strategies, thereby improving the overall treatment outcomes of children with ADHD.

Enrollment: 169 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• child in grades K-5
• child has been diagnosed with ADHD by pediatrician or other mental health professional
• child's ADHD care is currently being managed by pediatrician
• if child is being prescribed ADHD medication, is currently on a stable dosage of medication
• child is experiencing impairment at school as evidenced by a rating of 3 or higher on parent- or teacher-ratings of "academic progress" or "problems in classroom" and on the Impairment Rating Scale.

Exclusion criteria

• parent does not have access to a computer or smartphone

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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169 participants in 2 patient groups

mehealth portal with integrated behavioral tools

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this arm will continue to use the mehealth for ADHD web-based software for ADHD care but will also have access to a module that allows parents and teachers to develop and implement behavioral interventions such as daily report cards online.

Treatment:

Other: mehealth for ADHD

Other: Behavioral tools integrated within mehealth for ADHD software

mehealth portal with no integrated behavioral tools

Other group

Description:

Patients in this arm will continue to use the mehealth for ADHD web-based software for ADHD care but will wait one year before getting access to the behavioral intervention features.

Treatment:

Other: mehealth for ADHD