The role of medication in reducing the negative effects of hyperactivity-inattention on achievement: A population-based longitudinal investigation of students and their classrooms

School academic performance of children hospitalised with a chronic condition

OBJECTIVE

To examine academic outcomes among children hospitalised with a chronic health condition.

DESIGN

Population-level birth cohort.

SETTING

New South Wales, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

397 169 children born 2000-2006 followed up to 2014.

INTERVENTION/EXPOSURE

Hospitalisations with a chronic condition.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Academic underperformance was identified as 'below the national minimum standard' (BNMS) in five literacy/numeracy domains using the national assessment (National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy) data. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the adjusted ORs (aORs) of children performing BNMS in each domain at each grade (grades 3, 5 and 7, respectively).

RESULTS

Of children hospitalised with a chronic condition prior to National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) (16%-18%), 9%-12% missed ≥1 test, with a maximum of 37% of those hospitalised ≥7 times, compared with 4%-5% of children not hospitalised. Excluding children who missed a NAPLAN test, more children hospitalised with a chronic condition performed BNMS across all domains and grades, compared with children not hospitalised (eg, for BNMS in reading at grade 3: n=2588, aOR 1.35 (95% CI 1.28 to 1.42); for BNMS in numeracy at grade 3: n=2619, aOR 1.51 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.59)). Increasing frequency and bed-days of hospitalisation were associated with 2-3 fold increased odds of performing BNMS across all domains and grades. Children hospitalised with mental health/behavioural conditions had the highest odds of performing BNMS across all domains at each grade.

CONCLUSIONS

Children hospitalised with a chronic condition underperform academically across literacy/numeracy domains at each school grade. Health and educational supports are needed to improve these children's academic outcomes.

"Real-world" effectiveness of methylphenidate in improving the academic achievement of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosed students-A systematic review

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms usually impairs academic achievement and can trigger the onset of medication. Methylphenidate is a drug widely prescribed to treat ADHD. However, systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials suggest that it does not lead to great improvements in academic performance. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the evidence on the "real-world" effectiveness of methylphenidate in improving the academic achievement of ADHD students.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of observational studies retrieved from five electronic databases, besides a manual search and search in grey literature. Studies evaluating treatment with methylphenidate compared to no treatment or other pharmacological/non-pharmacological alternatives used in ADHD were included. The risk of bias of the selected studies was assessed using adapted versions of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Nine studies (from ten reports) were included in the review: four cohorts, two before-and-after designs and three cross-sectional studies. They involved 12,269 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. The doses of methylphenidate ranged from 10 to 72 mg/day, and the duration of the treatment from 2.6 months to 4.25 years. Five of these studies concluded that methylphenidate improves academic performance. However, three of the four lowest-bias risk studies concluded that the drug is ineffective. Five studies assessed the long-term use of methylphenidate, and four of them concluded that it does not result in better outcomes in the school setting. Most included studies had considerable limitations and significant heterogeneity regarding methodological design and academic performance measurement criteria.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Although some studies indicate that the short-term use of methylphenidate may improve outcomes in the school environment, the available evidence does not support the establishment of adequate conclusions about the real benefits of methylphenidate in the academic improvement of ADHD students.