A Best-Worst Scaling Experiment to Prioritize Caregiver Concerns About ADHD Medication for Children

Objective:The objective of this feasibility study was to develop and pilot an instrument to elicit caregivers’ priorities when initiating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication for their child.Methods:A best-worst scaling experiment was used to rank competing priorities when initiating ADHD medicine. Forty-six participants were recruited for a two-phase study involving survey development (phase 1, N=21) and the survey pilot (phase 2, N=25). Best-worst scores and 95% confidence intervals indicating the relative importance of 16 concerns were determined, and t tests were used to determine the scores’ significance.Results:The significance of best-worst scores for most concerns indicated that the choices were purposeful. Concerns about helping the child become a successful adult, having a doctor who addresses caregivers’ concerns, and improving school behavior were ranked highest.Conclusions:The best-worst scaling method can elicit priorities for children’s mental health treatment. Future ...