Impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on academic performance in university physiotherapy students in Ecuador: A comparative cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/caes.v17i1.6019Keywords:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, academic performance, university students, Physical TherapyAbstract
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), although commonly linked to childhood, persists into adulthood and affects university academic performance. This cross-sectional comparative study analyzed the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement among Physical Therapy students in Ecuador, a degree with high cognitive, practical, and communicative demands. A total of 324 students from second to ninth levels, all over 18 years old, were randomly selected. Findings revealed that 11.1% (n=36) had a confirmed diagnosis, and 83.3% of them were not receiving treatment. Students with ADHD presented lower grade point averages (p=0.004), higher rates of semester repetition (p=0.018), and difficulties in concentration and organization. It was concluded that ADHD is a risk factor that requires timely institutional and clinical intervention.
References
Ayano, G., Tsegay, L., Gizachew, Y., Necho, M., Yohannes, K., Abraha, M., Demelash, S., Anbesaw, T. & Alati, R. (2023). Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Umbrella review of evidence generated across the globe. Psychiatry Research, 328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115449
Canu, W. H., Stevens, A. E., Ranson, L., Lefler, E. K., LaCount, P., Serrano, J. W., Willcutt, E. & Hartung, C. M. (2021). College Readiness: Differences Between First-Year Undergraduates with and Without ADHD. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 54(6), 403-411. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219420972693
Dalwood, N., Maloney, S., Cox, N. & Morgan, P. (2018). Preparing Physiotherapy Students for Clinical Placement: Student Perceptions of Low-Cost Peer Simulation. A Mixed-Methods Study. Simulation in Healthcare, 13(3), 181-187. https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.0000000000000276
Duff, C. J., Kolehmainen, N. & McAnuff, J. (2021). Specifying current physical therapy practice for pediatric trials: A survey of UK physical therapists. Child: Care, Health and Development, 47(6), 794-804. https://doi.org/10.1111/CCH.12886
DuPaul, G. J., Gormley, M. J., Anastopoulos, A. D., Weyandt, L. L., Labban, J., Sass, A. J., Busch, C. Z., Franklin, M. K. & Postler, K. B. (2021). Academic Trajectories of College Students with and without ADHD: Predictors of Four-Year Outcomes. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 50(6), 828-843. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.1867990
Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., Zheng, Y., Biederman, J., Bellgrove, M. A., Newcorn, J. H., Gignac, M., Al Saud, N. M., Manor, I., Rohde, L. A., Yang, L., Cortese, S., Almagor, D., Stein, M. A., Albatti, T. H., Aljoudi, H. F., Alqahtani, M. M. J., Asherson, P., … Wang, Y. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based Conclusions about the Disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUBIOREV.2021.01.022
Godfrey-Harris, M. & Shaw, S. C. K. (2023). The experiences of medical students with ADHD: A phenomenological study. PLoS ONE, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0290513
Gray, S. A., Fettes, P., Woltering, S., Mawjee, K. & Tannock, R. (2016). Symptom Manifestation and Impairments in College Students With ADHD. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 49(6), 616-630. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219415576523
Henning, C., Summerfeldt, L. J. & Parker, J. D. A. (2021). ADHD and Academic Success in University Students: The Important Role of Impaired Attention. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(6), 901. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547211036758
Herrman, D., Chambers, E. & Sharp, A. (2024). Working in the Margins: The Untapped Potential of Disability Inclusion. Physical Therapy, 104(9). https://doi.org/10.1093/PTJ/PZAE108
Montiel-Nava, C., Ortiz León, S., Jaimes Medrano, A. & González-Ávila, Z. (2012). Prevalencia del trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad en estudiantes universitarios venezolanos. Reporte preliminar. Investigación Clínica, 53(4), 353-6364. http://ve.scielo.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0535-51332012000400004&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es
Murkett, K., Smart, W. & Nugent, K. (2014). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in postsecondary students. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 26(10), 1791. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S64136
Sepúlveda Bernales, V. J. & Espina Araneda, V. F. (2021). Desempeño académico en estudiantes de educación superior con Trastorno por Déficit de Atención. Estudios Pedagógicos (Valdivia), 47(1), 91-108. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07052021000100091
Song, P., Zha, M., Yang, Q., Zhang, Y., Li, X. & Rudan, I. (2021). The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health, 11, 4009. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04009
World Medical Association. (2025). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants. JAMA, 333(1), 71-74. https://doi.org/10.1001/JAMA.2024.21972
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Electrónica Calidad en la Educación Superior
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Esta revista provee acceso libre inmediato a su contenido bajo el principio de que hacer disponible gratuitamente la investigación al publico, lo cual fomenta un mayor intercambio de conocimiento global.
