OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test whether physicians' attitudes regarding the impact of ADHD on health-related quality of life (HRQL) explain differences in practices for prescribing psychostimulants in children. METHOD: In a cross-sectional survey, U.S.-based pediatricians and psychiatrists ("physicians") used the Paper-Standard Gamble--a widely used preference-based assessment of HRQL--to rate four vignettes describing ADHD health states of varying severity. Associations between standard gamble scores and questions about prescribing practices were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Surveys were mailed to 291 physicians; 127 (44%) returned complete forms. Lower standard gamble scores were associated with more emphasis on children's ADHD symptoms (p = .03) and less emphasis on parents' concerns about stimulant side effects (p = .03) when prescribing psychostimulants. CONCLUSION: Differences in physician perceptions of the severity of ADHD symptoms and in their emphasis on parental concerns about side effects may help explain variations in ADHD psychostimulant prescription patterns.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test whether physicians' attitudes regarding the impact of ADHD on health-related quality of life (HRQL) explain differences in practices for prescribing psychostimulants in children. METHOD: In a cross-sectional survey, U.S.-based pediatricians and psychiatrists ("physicians") used the Paper-Standard Gamble--a widely used preference-based assessment of HRQL--to rate four vignettes describing ADHD health states of varying severity. Associations between standard gamble scores and questions about prescribing practices were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Surveys were mailed to 291 physicians; 127 (44%) returned complete forms. Lower standard gamble scores were associated with more emphasis on children's ADHD symptoms (p = .03) and less emphasis on parents' concerns about stimulant side effects (p = .03) when prescribing psychostimulants. CONCLUSION: Differences in physician perceptions of the severity of ADHD symptoms and in their emphasis on parental concerns about side effects may help explain variations in ADHD psychostimulant prescription patterns.
Authors: Mark L Wolraich; David E Bard; Martin T Stein; Jerry L Rushton; Karen G O'Connor Journal: J Atten Disord Date: 2009-08-25 Impact factor: 3.256
Authors: Phillip L Ross; Benjamin Littenberg; Paul Fearn; Peter T Scardino; Pierre I Karakiewicz; Michael W Kattan Journal: Int J Technol Assess Health Care Date: 2003 Impact factor: 2.188