Identifying digital healthcare solutions for young people with ADHD (DigitalHealth-ADHD)

Background:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, characterised by inattention, disorganisation and/or hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around 5% of children and adolescents, and up to 40% continue to experience symptoms into adulthood. Primary care professionals (e.g., general practitioners (GPs), nurses, link workers) play an important role in providing healthcare for young people with ADHD. This is due to long waiting times in adult mental health services which affect transition, and patchy provision of specialist services. However, many feel unsure how to support young people at this vulnerable stage in their lives, and young people report varied experiences of support from their GP practice. Creative solutions are needed to improve care and make it easier for young people with ADHD to access healthcare.

The proposed project extends our ongoing ‘Managing young people with ADHD in primary care’ (MAP) study, which is finding out from young people with ADHD and healthcare professionals about primary care services provided for ADHD. As well as mapping current practice, we are working with stakeholders to produce recommendations on how to improve services and access to them. One key improvement being proposed involves adding digital solutions into usual care pathways. For example, this could include providing patients with health information and digital support for self-management (such as medication reminders) or providing healthcare professionals with tools to support prescribing and other aspects of care. However, research is needed to find out what healthcare professionals and people with ADHD think about this. We also need to explore evidence on existing digital healthcare applications, and test how promising approaches could be used in practice.

Aims:

To extend our MAP study by synthesising existing evidence, and surveying and interviewing healthcare professionals and people with ADHD to identify suitable evidence-based healthcare solutions to support young people with ADHD in primary care.

Methods:

Systematic review of evidence on existing digital healthcare applications and exploring what might work to support young people with ADHD in primary care.

National survey and interviews with healthcare professionals, people with ADHD, and supporters, about use of digital healthcare solutions and information to support ADHD.

Synthesis of findings from the survey, interviews, and review, to consider which healthcare applications might be used to support people with ADHD in primary care (and how).

Developing a proposal for future research to further develop and test promising digital healthcare solutions.

Patient Involvement:

This research has been developed in response to identified gaps in services, and requests from people with ADHD. The team includes a young person with ADHD whose input will help ensure the research is sensitive and relevant, and an academic GP to ensure identified solutions are deliverable within primary care settings.

Amount awarded: £52,714