Evaluating the outcome of a family empowerment program on parenting practices and child behavior in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental health disorder in childhood and adolescence. The symptoms, particularly if not adequately treated, can have significant negative impacts on the patients’ school, family, and social functioning. Behavior modification is necessary care but still lack of effective model.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of parent training for family empowerment program on parenting practices in children with ADHD.

Methods: The study was pretest and posttest experimental design with control group. There were 56 caregivers of children with ADHD randomly assigned the random numbers to the control and experimental groups. Training program entitled family empowerment for behavioral modification in ADHD was applied on experimental group. Parents were assessed with Swanson, Nolan and Pelham IV Scale (SNAP-IV) and parenting practice test at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. Independent   t test, Chi-square test and Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) were used for data analysis.

Results: After 3-month training program, experimental group had significantly lower scores in inattention score, hyperactivity/impulsivity score and total score of SNAP – IV scale and higher score of parenting practice test. However, SNAP – IV and parenting practice test after the program intervention did not differ significantly between experimental group and control group.

Conclusion: Parent training for family empowerment program on parenting practices could help parent gain knowledgs to modify behavior in children with ADHD.