The development of a video intervention to motivate teens to ask providers questions about ADHD

Our objective was to develop a series of short educational videos for teens and parents to watch before pediatric ADHD visits to motivate teens to be more actively involved during their visits. The development of the videos was theoretically guided by Social Cognitive Theory. First, we conducted two focus groups with teens (ages 11 to 17) with ADHD, two focus groups with teens’ parents, and two focus groups with providers. The research team analyzed the focus group data to create the initial video script. Feedback was obtained from two teen advisory boards and the scripts were revised, then the videos were produced. Based on focus group results, an animated teen newscaster narrates six one- to two- minute videos with different themes: (a) talking to your doctor about your ADHD, (b) controlling ADHD without medication, (c) ADHD medications, (d) ADHD and school, (e) ADHD and relationships; and (f) talking to your parents about ADHD. Each theme includes three key messages and emphasizes how teens should discuss these messages with their providers. Teens, parents, and providers provided excellent insight into developing videos to increase teen involvement during ADHD visits. The developed video(s) are on Vimeo and on a website titled “Information for the Evolving Teenager” (iuveo.org).