Participation in a school-based, nurse-led support group was positively associated with perception of self-worth in preadolescents diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

This study tested the clinical utility of the Frame Model of Preadolescent Empowerment as a means of enhancing the self-perception of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The intervention, which has theoretical roots in Roy's Adaptation Model, Harter's Developmental Perspective, and Murrell-Armstrong's Empowerment Matrix, was administered to children with ADHD in a pretest/posttest design. Findings indicate that this model significantly increased the perceptions of self-worth in preadolescents with ADHD.

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According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the last several years. School nursing interventions need to be developed, implemented, and evaluated to address complexities experienced by this population. The STARS curriculum (Social Empowerment Training and Responsibilities for Students with ADHD) is a nursing intervention designed to improve perceptions of scholastic competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct in preadolescents diagnosed with ADHD. It consists of eight sessions with the theme of social empowerment training woven throughout the curriculum. The support group concept, with children helping children, initiated dynamic conversation as the participants creatively problem-solved and developed solutions to their difficulties.

Professional practice is built on sound knowledge specific to each discipline. This knowledge is developed and validated through a process of scientific investigation or research. However, lack of knowledge about the research process acts as a barrier to applying evidence-based practice within the school setting. Understanding the components that make up a research study facilitates critical analysis and application in school nursing practice. This article describes a straightforward method for analyzing research studies, enabling school nurses to understand and apply current research in their daily practice.