ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is impaired functioning in at least two settings: home and school due to impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention.Primary school teachers play an essential role in assessing children’s behaviour and are often the first ones to recognise a...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub, Mohammednour Mukhtar Mohammednour Ali, Shafee S Almahi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:BMJ Paediatrics Open
Online Access:https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e003456.full
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author Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub
Mohammednour Mukhtar Mohammednour Ali
Shafee S Almahi
author_facet Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub
Mohammednour Mukhtar Mohammednour Ali
Shafee S Almahi
author_sort Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub
collection DOAJ
description Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is impaired functioning in at least two settings: home and school due to impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention.Primary school teachers play an essential role in assessing children’s behaviour and are often the first ones to recognise a child with ADHD as they are exposed daily to children and play a role in evaluating treatment plans at school. This study aims to assess the knowledge, perception and misconceptions of elementary school teachers in the locality of Khartoum regarding ADHD and to examine the differences in their knowledge in terms of sociodemographic variables.Method The study uses a descriptive cross-sectional study design conducted at 37 randomly selected elementary schools in the locality of Khartoum in October/November 2022. We applied cluster sampling and used a structured self-administered two-part questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data and ADHD knowledge scale.Results The study included 321 teachers, 270 (84.1%) females and 51 (15.9%) males. The mean age of participants was 47.9 (SD = 8.5) years, with an average teaching experience of 21.94 (SD = 10.2) years.The overall knowledge about ADHD was 48.53% (SD = 9.71). Teachers tend to show higher knowledge about ADHD symptoms and relatively poor awareness regarding ADHD treatment. Mean knowledge was higher in teachers with previous experience with an ADHD child.Conclusion Elementary school teachers in Khartoum seemed to lack sufficient understanding of ADHD, especially when it came to treatment options. Raising awareness should be prioritised to help students with ADHD.
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spelling doaj-art-8f80d2eb098b402890f12eaa8245ae142025-08-20T03:45:03ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Paediatrics Open2399-97722025-08-019110.1136/bmjpo-2025-003456ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub0Mohammednour Mukhtar Mohammednour Ali1Shafee S Almahi2Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, SudanFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, SudanFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, SudanBackground Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is impaired functioning in at least two settings: home and school due to impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention.Primary school teachers play an essential role in assessing children’s behaviour and are often the first ones to recognise a child with ADHD as they are exposed daily to children and play a role in evaluating treatment plans at school. This study aims to assess the knowledge, perception and misconceptions of elementary school teachers in the locality of Khartoum regarding ADHD and to examine the differences in their knowledge in terms of sociodemographic variables.Method The study uses a descriptive cross-sectional study design conducted at 37 randomly selected elementary schools in the locality of Khartoum in October/November 2022. We applied cluster sampling and used a structured self-administered two-part questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data and ADHD knowledge scale.Results The study included 321 teachers, 270 (84.1%) females and 51 (15.9%) males. The mean age of participants was 47.9 (SD = 8.5) years, with an average teaching experience of 21.94 (SD = 10.2) years.The overall knowledge about ADHD was 48.53% (SD = 9.71). Teachers tend to show higher knowledge about ADHD symptoms and relatively poor awareness regarding ADHD treatment. Mean knowledge was higher in teachers with previous experience with an ADHD child.Conclusion Elementary school teachers in Khartoum seemed to lack sufficient understanding of ADHD, especially when it came to treatment options. Raising awareness should be prioritised to help students with ADHD.https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e003456.full
spellingShingle Mohammed Elhadi Badawi Mahjoub
Mohammednour Mukhtar Mohammednour Ali
Shafee S Almahi
ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
BMJ Paediatrics Open
title ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
title_full ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
title_fullStr ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
title_full_unstemmed ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
title_short ADHD knowledge, perception and misconceptions among Sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
title_sort adhd knowledge perception and misconceptions among sudanese elementary school teachers 2022
url https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/9/1/e003456.full
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AT shafeesalmahi adhdknowledgeperceptionandmisconceptionsamongsudaneseelementaryschoolteachers2022