Adolescent-Reported Changes in Provider Behavior Following Pediatrician Training in Stimulant Diversion Prevention:...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Stimulant medications are frequently prescribed for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents.
• Concerns exist regarding the diversion and misuse of these prescribed stimulants.
• Effective prevention strategies are crucial to ensure patient safety and responsible medication management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a brief pediatrician training program on the adoption of stimulant diversion prevention strategies.
• To assess whether adolescents with ADHD report increased utilization of these strategies by their healthcare providers following the training.
• To examine the influence of the training on parent-patient communication regarding stimulant diversion.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted involving pediatric practices.
• Practices were assigned to either a stimulant diversion prevention (SDP) workshop or treatment-as-usual (TAU).
• Surveys were administered to 341 stimulant-treated adolescent patients at baseline and three follow-up points.

Main Results:

• Adolescents in the SDP group reported significantly higher provider use of diversion prevention strategies compared to the TAU group.
• Patients receiving the SDP training also reported increased communication with parents about stimulant diversion.
• Provider satisfaction with the 1-hour training intervention was notably high.

Conclusions:

• A brief, 1-hour training empowers pediatricians to implement effective stimulant diversion prevention strategies.
• The findings, based on confidential patient reports, provide reliable evidence for the training's efficacy.
• The intervention not only enhances provider practices but also encourages vital home discussions on the safe use of stimulants.