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Abstract

Objective:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic and impairing neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed in approximately 2% to 4% of preschool-age children and 9% of all children. Behavioral parent training (BPT) and high-quality education are effective treatments for young children with ADHD; however, poor rates of treatment access and participation limit the reach of BPTs to rural and underserved communities. In this study, we tested the newly developed Rural Outreach and ADHD Research-Early Childhood (ROAR-EC) program, a clinician-led, 7-session education and parent training program designed for delivery over telemedicine.

Method:

We conducted a pilot RCT to assess the feasibility, acceptability, engagement of mechanism, and exploratory group × time effects of the ROAR-EC program compared to a control group in a sample of 44 children diagnosed with ADHD from a predominantly rural area (ages 3–7; M_age = 4.8; 62% male; 96% White; 89% non-Hispanic/Latinx). Families were randomized into either ROAR-EC or treatment as usual through developmental pediatrics and followed for 24 weeks. Assessed were metrics of feasibility, acceptability, parenting practices, caregiver empowerment, disruptive behaviors, and ADHD symptoms.

Results:

Results indicated that ROAR-EC was feasible to implement and acceptable to caregivers. Repeated measures ANOVAs found significant group × time interaction effects in favor of the treatment group compared to control for family empowerment, parenting practices, total behavior problems, impairment, and inattentive symptoms.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated the promise of brief telemedicine programs as feasible, acceptable, and likely beneficial alternatives to traditional BPTs for young children with ADHD in rural and low-resource areas.

Keywords

ADHD behavioral parent training telemedicine

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ROAR-Early Childhood: Pilot Testing a Brief Telemedicine Parent Training Program for Rural Children Diagnosed with ADHD

Abstract

Objective:

Method:

Results:

Conclusions:

Keywords

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