This study examined whether a text messaging–based intervention could improve adherence to stimulant medication among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study included 87 children aged 6–12 years who had been prescribed stimulant medication for ADHD, primarily through primary care settings. Participants receiving the SMS intervention were compared with age- and sex-matched patients receiving treatment as usual, with medication adherence assessed using timely prescription refills recorded in electronic medical records. Eighty-five percent of children receiving the SMS intervention refilled their prescriptions on time, compared with 62% of those receiving treatment as usual. The number needed to treat was five, indicating that for every five patients receiving the SMS intervention, one additional patient remained adherent to stimulant treatment. The preliminary findings suggest that an accessible text messaging intervention may help improve stimulant medication adherence among children with ADHD and support further evaluation through randomized clinical trials.
Publications
August 18, 2026