An objective measure of attention, impulsivity and activity reduces time to confirm ADHD diagnosis in children: a completed audit cycle

Hall, Charlotte L., Selby, Kim, Guo, Boliang, Valentine, Althea, Walker, Gemma M. and Hollis, Chris (2016) An objective measure of attention, impulsivity and activity reduces time to confirm ADHD diagnosis in children: a completed audit cycle. Child and Adolescent Mental Health . ISSN 1475-3588 (In Press)

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Abstract

Background: Diagnosing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and young-people typically relies on clinical observation and subjective parent, teacher and self-reports. The subjective nature of reports combined with contradictory or missing data can result in diagnostic uncertainty and delay. The aim of this study was to assess whether the addition of an objective test of attention, impulsivity and activity (QbTest) as an adjunct to standard ADHD assessment could accelerate the diagnostic process in routine National Health Service (NHS) settings. Method: In a pre- vs. post-test audit design, case records were examined in 40-cases diagnosed without the QbTest [pre-QbTest group] and 40-cases diagnosed with the QbTest [QbTest group], recording the number of consultations until a confirmed ADHD diagnosis was reached. Results: Using Poisson regression, significantly fewer clinician consultations (mean 2.18 vs. 3.05; p<0.02) were required to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD when the QbTest was used to augment assessment in comparison to standard assessment as usual. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the addition of the QbTest to standard clinical assessment may reduce time to diagnosis and potentially result in cost savings to the NHS. These preliminary data suggest that there is a potentially clinically meaningful benefit of adding the QbTest to routine clinical ADHD assessment and this should be should be examined next in the context of a randomised controlled trial.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/773805
Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hall, Charlotte L. et al. 'An objective measure of attention, impulsivity and activity reduces time to confirm ADHD diagnosis in children: a completed audit cycle' Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/camh.12140. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Keywords: QbTest; audit; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; diagnosing; assessment
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12140
Depositing User: Hall, Charlotte
Date Deposited: 05 Jan 2016 08:28
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 17:33
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/31174

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