Rodrigo M D A, Perera D, Eranga V P, Williams S S, Kuruppuarachchi K A L A
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Ceylon Med J. 2011 Jun;56(2):51-4. doi: 10.4038/cmj.v56i2.3108.
To assess the knowledge and attitudes towards attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among primary school teachers in the Gampaha District.
A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in randomly selected schools of Gampaha district using a stratified sampling method. The knowledge and attitudes on ADHD were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire distributed among all the consenting primary school teachers in the selected schools.
Total of 202 completed questionnaires of 210 distributed were returned. The majority showed good understanding about ill effects ofADHD, teachers' role in management and counterproductive effects of punishment. Three-fourths had a positive attitude towards behavioural therapy. However, only a minority had adequate knowledge about the presentation of ADHD and its treatment with medication. More than 80% of teachers believed that the parents were to be blamed for the child's ADHD. The majority of participating teachers also believed that behavioural disturbances caused by ADHD children were deliberate and malicious. Teachers who had training in child psychology recorded a significantly higher knowledge and had a more favourable attitude.
The knowledge of ADHD and its treatment among primary school teachers needs to be improved. Particular focus should be on improving attitudes and disseminating the message that timely interventions can make a difference in the educational and social development of the child.
评估甘帕哈区小学教师对注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的认知和态度。
采用分层抽样方法，在甘帕哈区随机选取的学校开展描述性横断面研究。通过向所选学校所有同意参与的小学教师发放自填式问卷，评估其对ADHD的认知和态度。
共收回210份问卷中的202份有效问卷。大多数教师对ADHD的不良影响、教师在管理中的作用以及惩罚的适得其反效果有较好的理解。四分之三的教师对行为疗法持积极态度。然而，只有少数教师对ADHD的表现及其药物治疗有足够的了解。超过80%的教师认为孩子患ADHD应归咎于家长。大多数参与调查的教师还认为ADHD儿童引起的行为障碍是故意和恶意的。接受过儿童心理学培训的教师在认知方面得分显著更高，态度也更积极。
小学教师对ADHD及其治疗的认知有待提高。应特别注重改善态度，并传播及时干预可对儿童教育和社会发展产生影响这一信息。
