Key result
U.S. teachers reported more ADHD diagnoses and stimulant use in their classrooms than Swedish teachers, who viewed stimulant medication significantly more negatively.
Why the study?
How do general education elementary classroom teachers in the United States and Sweden compare in their views on ADHD causes and treatments?
Cross-Sectional (n=273)
Yes
How do general education elementary classroom teachers in the United States and Sweden compare in their views on ADHD causes and treatments?
There are significant regional differences in how teachers view the acceptability of stimulant medications for ADHD, despite similar beliefs about its causation.
Cross-national differences in teacher views warrant caution in ADHD management; leaves open how perceptions influence diagnosis and treatment patterns.
A total of 157 general education elementary classroom teachers in the United States and 116 general education elementary classroom teachers in Sweden were sent surveys assessing how teachers in the United States and Sweden (1) view the use of stimulant medication to treat ADHD behaviors in children, (2) attribute the causes of ADHD behaviors, and (3) rate the acceptability of various interventions used to treat ADHD behaviors. Compared to Swedish teachers, U.S. teachers indicated that more children in their classrooms were diagnosed with ADHD and received stimulant medications to treat ADHD behaviors. Regarding causation, both groups believed that ADHD behaviors could have environmental and genetic causes. Teachers from both countries agreed that lacking basic academic skills could be a cause of inattention in the classroom. Although Swedish and U.S. teachers reported similar beliefs about the causation of ADHD behaviors, Swedish teachers viewed stimulant medication in a significantly more negative manner. In addition, a majority of Swedish teachers preferred an intervention package that did not include stimulant medication.
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Carlson et al. (2006) conducted a cross-sectional in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=273). Country of practice (United States) vs. Country of practice (Sweden) was evaluated on Views on the use of stimulant medication, causes of ADHD behaviors, and acceptability of interventions. U.S. teachers reported more ADHD diagnoses and stimulant use in their classrooms than Swedish teachers, who viewed stimulant medication significantly more negatively.
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