« Outil thérapeutique », « Advil® scolaire » ou « doping » ?

Abstract

In Québec, the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication consumption by children is of concern. While health professionals condemn the situation, they also find themselves at the heart of the claims as prescribers. Our qualitative analysis, following the principles of grounded theory, reports that health professionals are very critical of the performance society, but sensitive to pressure from parents, school and other health professionals. They are also ambivalent about the diagnosis of ADHD and its specific medications and therefore their prescribing practices are heterogeneous. Three cases emerge from the analysis and show that some of their practices reinforce pharmaceuticalization, while others offer resistance.

Keywords

• prescribing practice
• health professional
• ambivalence
• resistance
• pharmaceuticalization
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)