The Effects of Health Promotion Program for the Caregivers of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders Children

Objective: To explore the effect of health promotion programs on parental stress, quality of life, and health-promoting lifestyles for primary caregivers who had children with ADHD. Children's ADHD symptoms were also examined. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted between July 2017 and April 2018. Primary caregivers aged 20 to 65 years who had ADHD children aged 7 to 12 years were recruited from a psychiatric outpatient department. Sixty caregivers were randomized to the health promotion group intervention (n=30) and the control groups (n=30). The control group received usual care. Study instruments included the Swanson, Nolan, Pelham, Version IV (SNAP-IV), Parenting Stress Scale (Short form), Taiwan's Concise World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and Health-Promotion Lifestyle Profile. Both groups were evaluated before and immediately after the intervention at 1, 3, and 6 months. GEE was applied for statistical analysis. Results: 60 participants were randomized to the health promotion intervention (n=30) or the control group (n=30). To explore the effect of health promotion programs on parental stress, quality of life, and health-promoting lifestyles for primary caregivers who are caring for children with ADHD. Conclusion: We hope that the Health promotion program could demonstrate the effect in reducing parental stress, improving the quality of life, promoting healthy lifestyles for primary caregivers, and reducing the symptoms of children with ADHD. Proper intervention programs should be incorporated in clinical practice settings in order to facilitate mental health well-being for caregivers of ADHD children.