Physician use of a participatory decision-making style with children with ADHD and their parents

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which physicians reported using a participatory decision-making (PDM) style with children and their parents during attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder visits and the physician characteristics that were related to physician use of a PDM style. The survey was sent to a stratified random sample of 250 pediatricians and 250 family practitioners that were licensed and actively practicing in North Carolina. A second mailing of the survey was sent to non-responders approximately 3 weeks after the first mailing was sent. Approximately 47% of the physicians responded. Physicians were significantly more likely to rate themselves as more participatory with parents than with children. Younger physicians were more likely to use a participatory style with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. Physicians who rated themselves as using a more participatory style with parents, also rated themselves as being more participatory with children. Pediatricians and younger physicians were more likely to use a participatory style with parents of ADHD children. The majority of physicians believed that ADHD children could begin to contribute to decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD during medical visits from age 7 to 11 years.