Improving Medication Adherence in Children with ADHD

Plain-language summary

Research suggests that helping parents understand ADHD and its treatments better, along with addressing their own potential ADHD, can play a significant role in improving how consistently their children take medication. However, findings are mixed, and while some studies highlight the importance of parental knowledge and support, other factors like treatment satisfaction and specific educational programs also play a role.

Key findings

• Educational programs designed for parents can improve their awareness of ADHD and how to manage their child’s medication, which in turn may lead to better adherence.
• When parents of children with ADHD also have ADHD themselves, it might be linked to how consistently their children take medication, suggesting that supporting these parents could be beneficial.
• Factors such as how satisfied parents are with the treatment and their beliefs about the medication can influence whether their children continue to take it.
• Clear communication and shared decision-making between healthcare providers and parents regarding medication can help improve adherence.

Studies cited (7)

1. Improved medication adherence and health literacy in parents of children with ADHD: Effects of a targeted educational program — Sharif NV, Ghasemzadeh P, Mohebbi N (2025, Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100634 PMCID: PMC12284690

2. Treatment Adherence and Related Factors Among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Saudi Arabia — Alsubaie MA, Alshehri ZY, Alawadh IA (2024, Patient preference and adherence, other)

   DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S443481 PMCID: PMC10849136

3. Estimating the Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Parents of Children with ADHD and the Association with Their Children's Disease Severity and Adherence to Medication — Ragadran J, Kamal Nor N, Ismail J (2023, Children (Basel, Switzerland), other)

   DOI: 10.3390/children10091440 PMCID: PMC10529668

4. Eliciting preferences for continuing medication among adult patients and parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder — Khan MU, Balbontin C, Bliemer MCJ (2022, Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, other)

   DOI: 10.1111/hex.13462 PMCID: PMC9122456

5. Prescription patterns and medication adherence in preadolescent children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — Nayak AS, Nachane HB, Keshari P (2021, Indian journal of psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_782_20 PMCID: PMC8221222

6. Parent and Teacher Training Increases Medication Adherence for Primary School Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder — Zheng X, Shen L, Jiang L (2020, Frontiers in pediatrics, other)

   DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.486353 PMCID: PMC7680838

7. Enhancing ADHD medication adherence: challenges and opportunities — Charach A, Fernandez R (2013, Current psychiatry reports, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/s11920-013-0371-6 PMCID: PMC3718998