ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Kim Newsome, BSN, MPH; Rebecca T. Leeb, PhD; Samuel M. Katz, MPH; Angelika H. Claussen, PhD; Patricia L. Whalen, MPH; Lara R. Robinson, MPH, PhD; Nicole Stephan, MPH; Karyl T. Rattay, MD, MS, FAAP
Corresponding Author: Kim Newsome, BSN, MPH; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Email: kan3@cdc.gov
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2025.250252R1
Keywords: Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder, Clinical Practice Patterns, Cross-Sectional Studies, Knowledge, Medical Education, Primary Health Care
Dates: Submitted: 07-03-2025; Revised: 09-12-2025; Accepted: 10-06-2025
Status: Volume 39, Issue 1 (Publishes March 2026)
INTRODUCTION: Our study describes characteristics of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services, barriers, and needs, reported by a diverse population of primary health care clinicians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the United States.
METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the web-based Fall 2023 DocStyles survey of healthcare clinicians fielded from September 5 to October 12, 2023. The analytic sample included 1,520 clinicians (531 family physicians, 473 internists, 251 pediatricians, 143 nurse practitioners, and 123 physician assistants). We examined provision of ADHD diagnosis and treatment services, barriers to ADHD care, ADHD knowledge, and clinician training preferences.
RESULTS: Under half of adult (46.0%) and pediatric (42.6%) clinicians offer ADHD diagnostic services in their practices; overall, 31.6% of clinicians offer ADHD behavior treatment services and 69.0% offer ADHD medication treatment services. The most reported barriers to ADHD diagnosis were clinicians’ lack of time and comfort; the most reported barriers to medication treatment were side effects, medication shortages, and inability to find effective treatment. For behavior treatment, the most reported barriers were time and effort, cost, and inability to find effective treatment. Overall, only 27.3% of clinicians reported receiving adequate ADHD training in their educational programs, and 53.6% desired more ADHD training.
CONCLUSIONS: Tailored public health efforts to increase clinicians’ access to evidence-based information on ADHD care, facilitate clinician connections to networks and partnerships for ADHD consultation and referral, and improve coordinated systems-level enhancements could offer important support for clinicians as they promote lifelong health and well-being for people with ADHD.