Use of Health and School-Based Services in Australia by Young People with Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: To examine use of health (including psychiatric) and school-based services by children and adolescents who met symptom criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the factors associated with service use, and barriers to service access. Method: The relationship between pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Vol. 43; no. 11; pp. 1355 - 1363
Main Authors:	Sawyer, Michael Gifford, Rey, Joseph M, Arney, Fiona Marie, Whitham, Justine Nikola, Clark, Jennifer Joy, Baghurst, Peter Adrian
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-11-2004
Subjects:	Adolescent Adolescent Health Services - utilization Adolescents Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - therapy Attention Deficit Disorders Australia Child Child Health Services - utilization Comorbidity Conduct Disorder Depression Diagnostic Interview Schedule Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Female Foreign Countries Health Care Surveys Health Services Health Services Accessibility Humans Hyperactivity Interview Schedule for Children Male Mental Health Services - utilization Psychiatry School Health Services - utilization Severity of Illness Index Standard 17 Australia
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Summary:	Objective: To examine use of health (including psychiatric) and school-based services by children and adolescents who met symptom criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the factors associated with service use, and barriers to service access. Method: The relationship between parents' perceptions of children's need for professional help, the impact of children's problems on children and parents, and services used during the previous 6 months were examined in a national sample of 398 children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms aged 6 to 17 years (70% response rate). Information was obtained from parents who completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV and standard questionnaires. Data collection took place between February and May 1998. Results: Only 28% of those with ADHD symptomatology had attended health or school-based services. Among these, 41% had attended both health and school-based services, 39% had attended only health services, and 20% had attended only school-based services. Sixty-nine percent of parents attending health services wanted additional help. Parental perceptions that children needed professional help, children's functional impairment, the impact of problems on parents, and comorbid depressive or conduct disorders had a significant and independent relationship with service use. Conclusions: A minority of children and adolescents with ADHD symptomatology receives professional help for their problems in Australia. Counseling is the most frequent help provided, with many parents wanting additional help beyond that already provided. Factors other than children's ADHD symptomatology have a significant relationship with service attendance. Practical issues, including the cost of services and waiting lists are the most common barriers cited by parents as hindering access to services. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2004;43(11):1355-1363. Key Words: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, service use.
ISSN:	0890-8567
DOI:	10.1097/01.chi.0000138354.90981.5b