Representations and knowledge of residents about ADHD in children in two regions in France

In France, knowledge and awareness of childhood ADHD remain insufficient. To guide the development of training programs for medical residents, we assessed the understanding of ADHD among residents in family practice, pediatrics, and psychiatry across two major French regions in 2021.

A SurveyMonkey® survey was distributed to residents in two French regions, gathering information about their training experiences on child/adolescent ADHD, as well as their knowledge and perceptions of the disorder.

Among the 251 residents who completed the survey (response rate: 28.5%), 53.4% reported receiving no training on ADHD during their residency. Substantial differences were observed across specialties: 75% of psychiatry residents reported receiving training, compared to only 38% of family practice residents. Even brief training sessions (e.g., one hour) significantly improved knowledge and perceptions of ADHD, with greater effectiveness observed as the duration of training increased.

Residency training on ADHD shows potential for improving access to care as post-training knowledge and perceptions align with those of trained practitioners actively managing ADHD in the same regions. Action plans are recommended to enhance training for family practice residents, with follow-up assessments planned using the same methodology.