How Can We Better Share Knowledge About ADHD Comorbidity?

What you need to know

• Effectively sharing ADHD comorbidity research with stakeholders like patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers is crucial but challenging
• Involving stakeholders early, collaborating with patient organizations, and translating findings into clinical guidelines are key strategies
• Training early career researchers in science communication and giving them agency in their training program is important for long-term impact
• Both in-person and online formats can be effective for research dissemination and training activities

Understanding ADHD Comorbidity and Its Importance

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects both children and adults. While ADHD itself can significantly impact a person’s life, it often occurs alongside other physical and mental health conditions. This co-occurrence of multiple conditions is known as comorbidity.

ADHD comorbidity is an important topic that goes beyond just clinical relevance - it has broader implications for society as a whole. As researchers learn more about how ADHD interacts with other conditions across a person’s lifespan, it’s crucial that this knowledge reaches the people who can benefit from it most. This includes healthcare providers, policymakers, patients and their families, and the general public.

However, effectively sharing complex scientific information with diverse groups of people can be challenging. Additionally, training the next generation of researchers to communicate their work to non-scientific audiences is an often-overlooked but vital task.

Lessons Learned in Sharing ADHD Comorbidity Research

A group of researchers involved in a large European project on ADHD comorbidity recently published an article sharing key insights they’ve gained about disseminating their findings and training early career scientists. Here are some of the most important lessons they learned:

Know Your Audience

Different stakeholder groups have different needs when it comes to scientific information. For example:

• Other researchers may be interested in detailed methodologies and statistical analyses
• Healthcare professionals need practical information they can apply in clinical settings
• Patients and families want to understand how findings might impact their daily lives
• Policymakers require concise summaries focused on public health implications

Tailoring the content, format, and language of research communications to each specific audience is crucial for effective knowledge sharing.

Involve Stakeholders Early

Rather than treating research dissemination as an afterthought, it’s valuable to engage key stakeholders from the very beginning of a project. For instance, the researchers collaborated with ADHD Europe, an organization representing people with ADHD across 21 countries, starting at the proposal writing stage.

This early involvement allows stakeholders like patient groups to provide input on study designs, ensuring the research addresses questions that matter most to the affected communities. It also helps build relationships that facilitate smoother knowledge sharing down the line.

Partner Closely with Patient Organizations

Patient advocacy groups can be invaluable allies in translating and distributing research findings. They often have established communication channels with patients and families, as well as expertise in making complex medical information accessible.

The researchers found that inviting patient representatives to research meetings and giving them opportunities to present their work increased mutual understanding. This two-way dialogue can lead to more impactful research and more effective dissemination.

As a concrete example, early career researchers collaborated with ADHD Europe to create a short educational film called “Shine a light - understanding ADHD.” This kind of co-created content can be particularly powerful in reaching patient communities.

Translate Findings into Clinical Guidelines

One of the most direct ways that research can impact clinical practice is through incorporation into professional guidelines. The researchers emphasize the importance of working to translate new findings on ADHD comorbidities into national and international clinical guidelines.

For instance, research showing high rates of certain psychiatric or physical health comorbidities in people with ADHD could lead to updated screening and management recommendations for healthcare providers. Similarly, findings on increased accident risk in ADHD could inform safety guidelines.

Beyond formal guidelines, other educational formats like workshops, courses, webinars, and e-learning modules can help disseminate new knowledge to clinicians. This is especially important in regions where awareness of adult ADHD may be low, even among healthcare professionals.

Leverage Professional Societies

Partnering with relevant professional organizations can greatly amplify the reach of research dissemination efforts. The researchers formed a thematic working group on ADHD across the lifespan within a larger European neuroscience society.

This provided a platform for communicating with the broader scientific community through the society’s website, social media, conferences, and other channels. It also created opportunities for additional collaborations and projects to build on the original research.

Educate Early Career Researchers

While the importance of science communication is increasingly recognized, many researchers still lack training in how to effectively share their work outside of academic settings. The researchers argue that educating the next generation of scientists in these skills is crucial.

They provided early career researchers with training in areas like:

• Open science practices
• Using patient-inclusive language
• Understanding neurodiversity
• Implementing inclusive research methods

Additionally, they involved early career researchers in creating accessible “myth-buster” videos about ADHD for public education campaigns.

Let Trainees Drive Their Learning

Given the interdisciplinary nature of many large research collaborations, it can be challenging to design training programs relevant to all early career researchers involved. The authors recommend allowing trainees to have significant input into choosing topics and speakers for educational activities.

This trainee-driven approach helps ensure that learning opportunities align with researchers’ actual needs and interests. It can include both academic topics and broader professional skills like science communication.

Blend Online and In-Person Training

While some types of training and networking are best done face-to-face, the researchers note that online formats can also be highly effective. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual learning tools that enable ongoing interaction and knowledge sharing.

They suggest that a mix of in-person and online activities can provide comprehensive training while also being more environmentally sustainable than frequent travel for meetings.

Offer Mentorship Opportunities

Beyond formal training, the researchers highlight the value of connecting early career scientists with mentors. They gave trainees the opportunity to choose a senior researcher from the collaboration (but outside their immediate work group) as a mentor.

These mentorship relationships provide a space to discuss professional development, work-life balance, and other important topics that may not be covered in standard research training.

Conclusions

• Large, interdisciplinary research collaborations have both an opportunity and a responsibility to effectively share their findings with diverse stakeholders
• Engaging patient groups, professional societies, and other partners can greatly enhance the impact and reach of research dissemination efforts
• Training early career researchers in science communication and giving them agency in their professional development is crucial for long-term progress
• A thoughtful blend of in-person and online activities can provide comprehensive and accessible research training and dissemination

By implementing these strategies, ADHD researchers hope to ensure that important new findings about comorbidity reach the patients, clinicians, and policymakers who can put that knowledge into practice. At the same time, they aim to cultivate a new generation of scientists skilled at bridging the gap between complex research and real-world impact.