Research article Topical Sections

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on services for children and adolescents with ADHD: results from a survey of paediatricians in the United Kingdom

  • Received: 03 February 2022 Revised: 20 May 2022 Accepted: 17 June 2022 Published: 21 June 2022
  • Background 

    The Covid-19 pandemic has led to huge disruptions and multi-domain healthcare crisis, with additional impact on children and young people (CYP) affected by Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

    Methods 

    We conducted an online survey and obtained responses from 62 Paediatricians who provide ADHD services for CYP about their experience of Service disruption and adaptations during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom between March and June 2020. The responses were both quantitative and qualitative.

    Results 

    The Paediatricians reported huge service disruptions such that almost half ceased the assessment of new patients with ADHD, and only 5% were able to offer physical monitoring for most patients. However, all respondents had adopted telemedicine, which allowed them to maintain high levels of non-physical service provision for existing patients. The Paediatricians used risk stratification strategies to determine which patients were more likely to benefit from the limited available face to face appointments for physical monitoring. The Paediatricians demonstrated clinical pragmatism to meet the needs of their patients such as starting medication without physical exam especially if the patient's behaviour was so challenging that it was presenting a crisis at home, and setting aside monthly limits for stimulant medications. Some respondents reported helpful cross-service collaborations to support CYP with ADHD and their families.

    Conclusion 

    The Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse effect on many CYP with ADHD and caused huge disruption to the ADHD services that support them. As the pandemic continues to cause disruptions to ADHD services, the service adaptations emerging from the literature including some of those identified in this study could be useful to support more stable and sustainable ADHD services, both during and after the pandemic.

    Citation: Michael O Ogundele, Hani F Ayyash, Cornelius Ani. The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on services for children and adolescents with ADHD: results from a survey of paediatricians in the United Kingdom[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2022, 9(3): 542-551. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2022037

    Related Papers:

  • Background 

    The Covid-19 pandemic has led to huge disruptions and multi-domain healthcare crisis, with additional impact on children and young people (CYP) affected by Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

    Methods 

    We conducted an online survey and obtained responses from 62 Paediatricians who provide ADHD services for CYP about their experience of Service disruption and adaptations during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom between March and June 2020. The responses were both quantitative and qualitative.

    Results 

    The Paediatricians reported huge service disruptions such that almost half ceased the assessment of new patients with ADHD, and only 5% were able to offer physical monitoring for most patients. However, all respondents had adopted telemedicine, which allowed them to maintain high levels of non-physical service provision for existing patients. The Paediatricians used risk stratification strategies to determine which patients were more likely to benefit from the limited available face to face appointments for physical monitoring. The Paediatricians demonstrated clinical pragmatism to meet the needs of their patients such as starting medication without physical exam especially if the patient's behaviour was so challenging that it was presenting a crisis at home, and setting aside monthly limits for stimulant medications. Some respondents reported helpful cross-service collaborations to support CYP with ADHD and their families.

    Conclusion 

    The Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse effect on many CYP with ADHD and caused huge disruption to the ADHD services that support them. As the pandemic continues to cause disruptions to ADHD services, the service adaptations emerging from the literature including some of those identified in this study could be useful to support more stable and sustainable ADHD services, both during and after the pandemic.


    Abbreviations

    ADHD

    Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

    CAMHS

    Child and adolescent mental health services

    CYP

    Children and young people

    GSF

    George-still forum

    PPE

    Personal protective equipment

    加载中

    Acknowledgments



    We than members of GSF who participated in the survey.

    Conflict of interest



    The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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