Attitudes Associated to Prescription of ADHD Drugs Among Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in Region Skåne.

Each year Region Skåne in Sweden gathers information on drug prescriptions within the region. The last ten years a significant pattern of uneven prescription rates of ADHD drugs to people up to 17 years of age are noticed in the different districts. These regional differences are noticed in other regions in Sweden as well and internationally.

The convention on the rights of the child became an institutional law in Sweden in 2020 and it emphasises that each child has the right to equal care and treatment. Therefore it is of importance to analyse how the variations in prescriptions rates arise and if we as healthcare providers can influence it. Our study is a collaboration between Region Skåne and the university of Lund and is a part of a larger study of the regional variations of prescriptions of ADHD drugs. Previous research informs us that a complex interplay of multiple factors can be behind variations in prescription rates among medical doctors and not the least subjective experiences and attitudes.

Our study performs semistructured interviews of Region Skånes child and adolescent psychiatrists with questions specifically regarding their own experiences and attitudes that might influence their prescription behavior.

The intention is to gather information that can guide future research questions.