Pediatric nurses' perception and knowledge about children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Main Author: Edelstein-Friedman, Ruth
• Format: Others
• Published: FIU Digital Commons 2002
• Subjects: Nursing; Pediatric Nursing
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3115

The purpose of this study was to assess pediatric nurses' perceptions and knowledge base about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). One thousand five hundred and sixty research surveys were mailed to nurses that were active members of a national pediatric nursing organization. Surveys included a questionnaire, adapted from the ADHD Management Scale developed by Lobar & Phillips, and a demographic questionnaire (See Appendix C). Five hundred and fifty five nurses responded. T he adapted scale consisted of two parts that measure perception and knowledge of ADHD. Open-ended questions were asked about the diagnosis of ADHD, the use of Ritalin for ADHD, types of factors that may affect the course of hospitalization, and types of injuries to which ADHD children may be prone. ANOVA was applied to the data from the overall mean perception and knowledge scores to make comparisons among and between groups of pediatric nurses based on age, education, experience, and type of employment. The results of the study suggested that hospital-based nurses, nurses under the age of 40 years, and nurses with Associate and Bachelor degrees had more erroneous perceptions and minimal knowledge about ADHD, than the Masters and Doctoral degree nurses and the community and college based nurses.