Use of a computerized decision aid for ADHD diagnosis: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Clinical Informatics
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and management require adherence to clinical guidelines.
• Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) offer potential to improve healthcare quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a CDSS intervention on ADHD diagnosis and treatment guideline adherence.
• To assess improvements in the quality of ADHD care for children aged 6-12.

Main Methods:

• A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted across four pediatric practices.
• The study compared ADHD diagnosis and management before and after CDSS implementation.
• Eighty-four patient charts were reviewed for adherence to structured diagnostic assessments.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a significant increase in structured diagnostic assessments (60% to 81%) compared to the control group (50% to 38%).
• The odds of using structured diagnostic assessments were significantly higher in the intervention group (OR=8.0).
• Higher rates of documented medication adjustments and mental health referrals were observed in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of a CDSS module improved the quality of ADHD diagnosis in children.
• The CDSS shows promise for enhancing the quality of ADHD management.
• Future research will focus on further developing the ADHD module and expanding it to other chronic conditions.