800 - Level of Comfort and Perception of Pediatricians Towards Diagnosis and Management of ADHD.

Publication Number: 800.5749

Vanya Vohra, St. Barnabas Hopital, bronx, NY, United States; Sanchez Miguel, sbh health system, bronx, NY, United States; Adjo Janine, SBH Health System, New York, NY, United States; Alexandra M. Gonzalez, SBH Health System, Bronx, NY, United States; David Rubin, St Barnabas Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States

Background: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral disorders, with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 5.3%. According to a national survey of parents in the USA, the estimated number of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD is 6 million (9.8%). Among these children 23% had not received any treatment for ADHD. One of the major reasons identified has been the shortage of specialists which translates into waiting times of over 11 months for an appointment.

Objective: Analyzing the comfort level of pediatricians and their perception towards diagnosis and management of ADHD.

Design/Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted via Google Forms, sent to 30 pediatric residency programs in New York State, and completed by primary care physicians (PCP) and pediatric PGY3 residents.

Results: The questionnaire was filled out by 86 participants (74% PGY3 and 26% PCP). 35% participants rated ADHD as sometimes underdiagnosed and sometimes over diagnosed, with 15% believing the rate of diagnosis was appropriate. 66.3% believes the diagnosis relieves families from stress and help problem-solving. 60.5% participants stated that they refer patients with suspected ADHD to specialists, while 30% of pediatricians felt comfortable diagnosing ADHD with 11.8% treating ADHD with stimulants. 90.6% of participants agreed with the use of stimulants in treating ADHD, but 5.8% felt comfortable in treating it, while 47.7% felt somewhat comfortable.

Conclusion(s): The study reveals a significant gap in pediatricians' comfort levels when treating ADHD, despite widespread agreement on the benefits of diagnosis and the use of stimulant medications. This discomfort often leads to the referral of patients to specialists, increasing the burden on specialists and resulting in longer wait times and delays in the initiation of services for ADHD patients. Given this challenge, it is essential to empower primary care pediatricians to manage ADHD cases. These challenges must be addressed systemwide like mental health training during residency and in CME projects.