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Project Description

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and generally continues through adolescence and adulthood, affecting about 2 to 16 percent of school aged children¹. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. ADHD can have a debilitating effect on functioning, with affected children more likely to experience learning difficulties, school failure, poor peer relationships and family conflict².  In fall 2007, the Manitoba government announced a significant new investment to develop a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program to help children living with ADHD and their families and schools³.  The program is designed to provide a range of interventions and services including ongoing assessments, consultations with a variety of mental-health professionals and family intervention specialists.
 
The program currently has approximately 200 open cases and receives about 100 new referrals per year. The program accepts children between 5 and 16 years of age and has generally been targeted towards the more difficult ADHD cases. It has not previously been evaluated. The impact of ADHD on children’s school performance, occupational outcomes and contacts with the health and criminal justice systems are well documented². 


Research Question

Does the Early Intervention program announced by the province of Manitoba in 2007 for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their families reduce poor health and educational outcomes and reduce socioeconomic inequities of program participants?


Hypotheses

1. Participants in the program will have fewer post treatment hospitalizations and emergency room visits, fewer post treatment diagnosis for substance abuse, and have fewer contacts with the criminal justice system, than matched cohort ADHD children who are non-participants.

2. Participants will have increased compliance with medication treatments, and have better educational outcomes (grades, age appropriate grade, high school completion) than matched cohort ADHD children who are non-participants.

3. Participation in the program will narrow the socioeconomic gap compared with matched cohort ADHD children who are non-participants on the program.

4.  Children referred to this program will have the same SES gradient, age and sex distribution as children diagnosed with ADHD who are not enrolled in the program; and the program will be equally effective for all participants stratified by SES.
 

References

(1) Rader R, McCauley L, Callen EC. Current strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder. Am Fam Physician 2009 April 15;79(8):657-65.
 
(2) Harpin VA. The effect of ADHD on the life of an individual, their family, and community from preschool to adult life. Arch Dis Child 2005 February;90 Suppl 1:i2-i7.
 
(3) Province of Manitoba. Province launches early-intervention program for children living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 2007;Available at URL: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2007/10/2007-10-23-113900-2403.html. Accessed January 22, 2011.