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Objectives To explore the concerns expressed by the Paediatricians managing children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) following the National Crisis of the availability of ADHD medication and the action they proposed or carried out to mitigate the effects. Methods Paediatricians who attended a National ADHD masterclass and study day in October 2023, were requested to complete a survey of their concerns and what action they would take to manage the challenges posed by the National ADHD medication crisis at the stage of their online evaluation of the study programme. The Prescribers at a NHS facility were asked the same survey questions. The collated information from both were subjected to a thematic analysis Results In the two weeks period following the request we received 30 concerns and 23 actions. Themes were categorised under Concerns and Actions for evaluation and discussion. A) Concerns expressed. Lack of medication -the impact from the guidance not to start new patients on ADHD medication, impact on symptom and impairment management, switching preparations and their impact, concerns expressed regarding compliance will be discussed in the presentation. Service provision- concerns regarding the impact on service delivery will be discussed. Secondary effects due parental, teacher and clinician anxieties elicited during the Local unit action will be presented. B) Actions taken or proposed at the Managerial level, By Individual Clinicians will be presented. This includes information sharing at primary and secondary care and service user levels. Conclusion The preliminary survey identified that the Paediatricians were concerned about the impact of the National ADHD medication crisis. The Impact of the lack of medication on the symptom management and reduction of impairments, lack of response and compliance to switched preparations, adverse events were expressed as primary concerns. The guidance on not to start new patients until the crisis of medication was resolved may increase school exclusions were also expressed as concerns. The Paediatricians proposed a multifaceted action plan to manage the impact. Action at the managerial level and individual clinician level were proposed. In the local unit a clear action plan was in place. Information sharing with service users and providers was embedded as key element of the action plan. Study Limitations: The survey was conducted within two weeks of the emerging crisis and had a limited sample size. Further Action: As part of an extension of the study, concerns expressed by Children and Young People, their parents and/or carers with actions they proposed to take or have taken is currently surveyed.
Perera et al. (Tue,) studied this question.