How can we engage adolescents with ADHD to understand their condition?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How can we best engage adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to understand and manage their condition?
IRAS ID
356618
Contact name
Gillian Middleditch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
KCHFT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 27 days
Research summary
How can we best engage adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to understand and manage their condition?
The Chief Investigator would like to understand further adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD and their parents’ experiences in regards to their adolescents ADHD diagnosis, for how the adolescent engages in learning about their ADHD and management of ADHD symptoms, along with accessing their healthcare appointments.
With the ever growing diagnostic rate of ADHD, it is important to understand why there is a high proportion of adolescents choosing not to engage in their health appointments regards ADHD medication. Locally, over a 26 month period the trust data showed 70% of adolescents did not attend their ADHD medication appointments.
This study is being funded by the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The studies objectives are:
1. To explore the use of participatory methods in engaging adolescents to learn about and manage their condition.
2. To explore the lived experiences of adolescents with ADHD and their parents, how they understand, engage with and manage ADHD, including the treatment and healthcare provision.Eligibility criteria includes adolescents (12-18 year olds) who have an ADHD diagnosis along with their parents. Recruitment of participants will be from Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT).
Study site:
Semi-structured interviews to be undertaken virtually with parents, for up to 30 minutes.Participatory method approach to be undertaken with two different age groups (no more than 5 adolescents per group, in total 4 groups to be implemented). First and second group will be for 12-15 year olds and the third and fourth group for 16-18 year olds, this will be a local site for participants, it may be in a community hall if this improves engagement. All participants will be invited to attend a once only 90 minute session.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0071
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion