Educational intervention of parents and teachers for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Educating parents and teachers is very important in managing child behavior, so the present study investigates the effect of parent-teacher educational intervention on reducing ADHD symptoms in children.

This quasi-experimental study with a randomized control group before and after. The multi-stage cluster sampling method was used in this study. Seventy-two children and their parents and teachers participated in this study. They were selected using the multistage cluster sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of test and control. Data collected by CSI-4 questionnaire and researcher-made questionnaires (knowledge, attitude, practice) of parents and teachers. Parents and teacher in test group participated in training sessions. Student's ADHD symptoms were assessed before and after the educational intervention.

In this study, the mean (SD) age of the parents was 37.28 (6.24) and the age of the teacher was 45.50 (6/45). Covariance test show that, two months after the intervention, based on parent and teacher report, the mean total score of attention was increase significantly only in test group students. Also, the mean total of hyperactivity score was decreased significantly only in test group students (P < 0.001). Also, the score of knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents as well as teachers 2 months after the intervention was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001).

Parents and teachers training and developing appropriate strategies to increase their awareness, attitude, and practice can diminish ADHD symptoms in all three aspects including inattention and reduce the side effects of ADHD. Planning in educating parents and teacher is essential to prevent impulsive and hyperactive behaviors.