Effects of an educational intervention on mothers of male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

An experimental research study was done to determine whether an educational intervention about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would improve a mother's knowledge about ADHD and her feelings of competence as a parent. 20 low socioeconomic status mothers who had a male child between the ages of 5 and 11 diagnosed with ADHD and placed on methylphenidate were randomly selected for the study. An experimental group of 10 mothers was given a 5-week educational intervention on ADHD; the remaining 10 mothers served as a control group. Differences between the experimental and non-experimental mothers in knowledge and opinions about ADHD and parental sense of competency were measured. Scores improved in parental satisfaction and parental sense of competency in mothers who participated in the educational intervention. The research findings support the idea that nurses can assist a family in learning and dealing with their child's ADHD, a chronic condition.