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. 2018 Jul 25:11:149-155.
doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2018.07.007. eCollection 2018 Sep.

Design of an experimental protocol to examine medication non-adherence among young drivers diagnosed with ADHD: A driving simulator study

Yi-Ching Lee  1 , Chelsea Ward McIntosh  2 , Flaura Winston  3 , Thomas Power  2 , Patty Huang  2 , Santiago Ontañón  4 , Avelino Gonzalez  5
Affiliations

Design of an experimental protocol to examine medication non-adherence among young drivers diagnosed with ADHD: A driving simulator study

Yi-Ching Lee et al. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. .

Erratum in

Abstract

The diagnosis of ADHD among teens and young adults has been associated with a higher likelihood of motor vehicle crashes. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of ADHD medication but the exact efficacy is still being debated. Further, medication adherence, which is low in this age group, can further reduce effectiveness. Our long-term objective is to reduce unsafe driving among drivers with ADHD by detecting medication non-adherence through driver behavior modeling and monitoring. As a first step, we developed the described lab study protocol to obtain reliable driver behavior data that will then be used to design and train behavior models built through machine learning. This experimental study protocol was developed to systematically compare driving behaviors under two medication conditions (before and after intake of medication) among young adults with ADHD and a control group of non-ADHD. A driving simulator was used to examine driving behaviors and interactions with traffic. The primary outcome was speed management for two comparisons (ADHD vs. non-ADHD and before vs. after medication), and secondary objectives involved understanding differences among the participants utilizing self-reported surveys about ADHD symptoms, drivers' knowledge, and perception about safety. The study protocol was designed to maximize participant safety and efficiency of data collection, as multiple measures were collected over two 2-h study visits. The sampled ADHD drivers were demographically and psychosocially similar but clinically different from the non-ADHD group. Overall, this protocol was effective in participant recruitment and retention, allowed staggered data collection, and can be incorporated in a subsequent clinical trial that examines the efficacy of a machine-learning based driver monitoring intervention.

Keywords: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Driving; Driving simulator; Machine learning; Medication adherence.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Steps of study procedures of regular and delayed medication conditions for ADHD participants.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Enrollment of ADHD participants.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Enrollment of non-ADHD participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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