The effects of the development of executive skills program (DOES) on Chinese children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms

Abstract

This waitlist-controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of the “Development Of Executive Skills (DOES)” program (Education Bureau, HKSAR, 2010) on the executive functions of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms. Sixteen participants (15 boys, 1 girl), aged 7 to 8 years (M = 7.95, SD = 0.59), were recruited voluntarily from a local service center. Half of them, the DOES group, received the 7 weekly training sessions after the pre-tests; the other half, the Waitlist group, joined the same program after the post-tests. Their demographic characteristics, medical conditions and nonverbal intelligence were comparable. Cognitive measures and parent observations assessing their executive skills and social behavioral functions were taken before the study, after the training for the DOES group and that for the Waitlist group. No statistically significant intervention effect was found. Effect size analyses, however, suggested potential social benefits of the program. Recommendations on improving the program effectiveness were discussed.