Parent Acceptability and Feasibility of ADHD Interventions: Assessment, Correlates, and Predictive Validity

Examined variables related to parents' stated willingness to pursue treatment, and their actual adherence to treatment recommendations, for children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents (87 mothers; 63 fathers) of 91 patients seen for evaluation at an outpatient ADHD clinic completed the ADHD Knowledge and Opinions Survey-Revised (AKOS-R). A factor analysis of the AKOS-R revealed three relevant factors: Counseling Acceptability, Medication Acceptability, and Counseling Feasibility. Externalizing problems were positively related to parents' Counseling Acceptability ratings, while parents' ADHD knowledge was positively related to their Medication Acceptability ratings. However, Counseling Acceptability, Counseling Feasibility, and Medication Acceptability scores at intake failed to predict parents' pursual of recommended counseling and medication at follow-up. Association between treatment acceptability and adherence might be enhanced by assessing treatment acceptability at multiple points during the assessment and treatment process.