Expert surveys ADHD
Perspectives of teachers and pediatricians

At a glance
- Co-project leader : Dr. Sandra Hotz, Dominik Robin, Prof. Dr. Frank Wieber, Dr. Michael von Rhein
- Project budget : CHF 20'000
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : Foundation (Stiftung Mercator Schweiz)
- Project partner : Kantonsspital Winterthur KSW / Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum SPZ, Universität Freiburg / Institut für Familienforschung und Familienberatung
- Contact person : Dominik Robin
Description
In the context of the research project "Promoting Children", two
online surveys with experts on the subject of ADHD were conducted
to take their perspectives into account.
1) Survey of teachers and curative educators
On the one hand, teachers and curative educators (n=223) in
German-speaking Switzerland were interviewed about ADHD. The survey
addressed questions about XYZ . In addition to questions with given
answer possibilities and in particular also open, qualitative
questions, the survey also evaluated the questions.
2) Survey of paediatricians
Secondly, paediatricians (n= 151) in all three Swiss language
regions were interviewed about ADHD. The focus of the survey was on
the current practice and the needs for diagnosis and treatment of
ADHD.
Results
On diagnostic practice, the doctors reported that for a diagnosis
they make an average of 3.1 appointments with parents and teachers,
of which the children are included in 2.4 appointments. More than
80% of pediatricians use screening instruments and about 50% use
specific instruments for differential diagnosis. The
subjectivity of the diagnosis and the associated challenge to
obtain meaningful information from parents, teachers and children
are mentioned as challenges in the diagnosis. The existing
prejudices against ADHD on the part of parents, teachers and the
public are also perceived as challenging.
With regard to therapy practice, the doctors reported that the
children's level of suffering is a central factor for therapy. They
provide detailed information about several possible forms of
therapy. In particular, they inform about the multimodal therapy
that is recommended as standard and combines pharmacological and
psychotherapeutic therapy approaches. From the information on the
prescription practice of the therapies, however, it becomes clear
that medications, with an average of 8 prescriptions per month, are
prescribed twice as frequently as psychotherapy, which is
prescribed on average 4 times in the same period as is occupational
therapy. Accordingly, as challenges in the treatment, the low
availability of therapy places, the lack of billing possibilities
for interprofessional cooperation (for example with teachers) are
mentioned.
The results from both expert interviews have been incorporated into
the recommendations for action, which, as a central publication
from the "Promoting Children" project, offer support for the
handling of AD(H)S in the decision-making process for patients and
experts. The recommendations for action are available free of
charge to all interested parties. The project leaders are available
as contact persons.
Further information
Publications
-
Robin, Dominik; Gemperle, Michael; von Rhein, Michael; Wieber, Frank; Hotz, Sandra; et al.,
2022.
The making of ADHD : a comparative content analysis of teachers’ and doctors’ worldviews.
Swiss Journal of Sociology.
48(2).
Available from: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjs-2022-0014