Can gymnastic teacher predict leisure activity preference among children with developmental coordination disorders (DCD)?

Which outcomes are key to the pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with developmental coordination disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Purpose of this study was to determine what key aspects of function should be incorporated to make up a pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD); more specifically, what aspects of functioning are implicated in DCD and what is their relative impact?

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, for which Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Proquest were searched (last update: April 2023, PROSPERO: CRD42023461619). Case-control studies were included to determine point estimates for performances on field-based tests in different domains of functioning. Risk of bias was assessed, and level of evidence estimated. Random-effect meta-analyses were performed to calculate the pooled standardized mean differences for domains of functioning and subgrouping was done for clinically relevant subdomains. Heterogeneity was determined with I2.

RESULTS

121 papers were included for analyses. Data of 5 923 children with DCD were included (59.8% boys) and 23 619 Typically Developing (TD) children (45.8% boys). The mean (SD) age of the DCD group was 10.3y (1.2) and 9.3y (1.3) for the TD children. Moderate evidence was found for motor performance, executive functions, sensory processing and perceptions, cognitive functions and sports and leisure activities to be affected in children with DCD.

CONCLUSION

Differences between the two groups varied per domain of functioning. This emphasizes the diversity present within children with DCD and provides a rationale for explaining the heterogeneity in this patient group. Yet, results highlight the potential involvement of all these domains and call for clinicians to be alert not only to examine motor skill difficulties but also other aspects of function. Results indicate the need to develop an individualized pre-intervention multi-dimensional assessment profile for each child with DCD. It also supports the important role that clinicians play in an interdisciplinary team to tackle the difficulties encountered by children with DCD.

Understanding factors that influence physical activity behavior in people with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): a mixed-methods convergent integrated systematic review

This systematic review synthesizes the literature on physical activity amongst people with DCD using the COM-B framework. The review questions were: (1) what is the Capability (C), Opportunity (O) and Motivation (M) for physical activity and (2) what does physical activity behavior (B) look like? A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted by searching eight databases (PubMed, APA PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, Child Development and Adolescent Studies, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL) up to July 2023. Data were extracted, thematically analyzed, and mapped to the COM-B model. The quality of studies was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022319127). Forty-three papers, 42 of which related to children, were included. Fifteen aligned with physical activity behavior, nine with physical capability, thirteen with psychological capability, one with social opportunity, one with physical opportunity, one with reflective motivation and three with automatic motivation. Pre-school-aged children with DCD engage in comparable levels of physical activity behavior, but differences emerge from 6 years of age. Characteristics of DCD result in reduced physical capability and less varied participation in physical activity. This impacts psychological capability, whereby lower self-perceptions result in a negative feedback loop and reduce the motivation to participate. Barriers relating to social opportunities may result in poor reflective and automatic motivation, although there is evidence that interventions can enhance enjoyment in the short term.

Early signs of functioning and contextual factors in children 0 to 6 years of age at high risk of or with developmental coordination disorder: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) can significantly impact body structures and functions, activities, participation and contextual factors. Using a scoping review methodology, we aimed to identify the characteristics or signs that can have an early impact on the development and functioning of children with DCD between 0 and 6 years.

METHODS

We searched the Medline, Cochrane and PEDro databases. The screening of the 1580 articles obtained was conducted independently and in duplicate. From the included articles, among others, we extracted results that reported the early developmental characteristics of children at high risk or diagnosed with DCD, the components of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and the F-Words studied in the results or the agents involved in the evaluation.

RESULTS

Seventeen articles were included in the review. From them, a set of early signs of DCD-general and specific-were collected that reflected the existence of restrictions in daily life activities from an early age and in certain routines, such as eating, dressing, grooming or playing. The most studied components of the ICF were activities and participation, with functioning being the most studied F-word.

CONCLUSIONS

Detection of activity limitations and restrictions in participation between 0 and 6 years in children with DCD is possible. Recognition of parental concerns and early assessment could facilitate the follow-up of children at high risk for DCD and their inclusion in screening programs that include standardized tools for their diagnosis.

The role of poor motor coordination in predicting adults' health related quality of life

BACKGROUND

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its functional restrictions may persist into adulthood. Nevertheless, the knowledge about DCD in adulthood and its association with health related quality of life (HRQOL) is limited.

AIMS

To explore how individuals with suspected DCD experience DCD impacts as children and as adults and how these experiences predict their HRQOL.

METHODS

Participants were 200 healthy individuals aged 20-64 (mean 32.66 ± 11.51): 18 with suspected DCD and 182 with normal motor performance (according to the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia, ADC, Checklist cut-off score). Participants completed a sociodemographic/health questionnaire, the ADC and the WHOQOL-BREF which measures physical, psychological, social and environmental HRQOL.

RESULTS

The group with suspected DCD had significantly lower HRQOL (except for the physical domain). In the general sample, current feelings about the individual's performance predicted all HRQOL domains. Among the study group, HRQOL was predicted by current perception of performance and difficulties experienced as a child.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The negative effects of DCD during childhood and adulthood may reduce adults' HRQOL, mainly in the psycho-social and environmental domains. The detailed profile provided by the ADC with its functional context may assist in evaluating DCD in adults and in tailoring intervention for improving HRQOL.

The Child Evaluation Checklist (CHECK): A Screening Questionnaire for Detecting Daily Functional "Red Flags" of Underrecognized Neurodevelopmental Disorders among Preschool Children

Background

Early identification of invisible comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders, such as specific learning disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorders, and developmental coordination disorders, is crucial to improving children's daily functional deficits related to executive functions. However, a practical questionnaire to address parents' concerns is lacking.

Aims

To develop a reliable and valid assessment tool that can identify young children at risk for invisible underrecognized neurodevelopmental disorders. This article describes the development and standardization of the Child Evaluation Checklist (CHECK).

Methods and Procedures

Participants were 186 children aged 3 to 6 years: 91 with suspected invisible neurodevelopmental disorders, and 95 controls with typical development. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the CHECK, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P).

Outcomes and Results

The CHECK's construct validity indicated high internal consistency for each part (Part A: α = .94; Part B: α = .90) and moderate-to-high consistency for each of Part A's four factors. Significant correlations, as well as significant group differences, were found between the CHECK factors and BRIEF-P scores.

Conclusions and Implications

Use of the CHECK allows for timely identification of suspicious ("red flags") invisible neurodevelopmental disorders. It may support parents' sufficient awareness and knowledge to refer their children for comprehensive evaluation and intervention.

Psychometric properties of observational tools for identifying motor difficulties - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Early identification of children with motor difficulties, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is essential. At present only a fraction of children with DCD are identified. The purpose of the study was to systematically review the literature from 1994 to 2017 on observational screening tools and to evaluate the validity, reliability and usability of the questionnaires used.

METHODS

The review of the literature was conducted to synthesize the data from five electronic databases for children aged 6-12 years. The following databases were searched: Academic search Elite (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (ProQuest), and SPORTDiscus with Full Text (EBSCO). The studies meeting our inclusion criteria were analyzed to assess the psychometric properties and feasibility of the measures.

RESULTS

The literature search retrieved 1907 potentially relevant publications. The final number of studies that met the inclusion criteria of our systematic review was 45. There were 11 questionnaires for parents, teachers and children. None of the questionnaires was valid for population-based screening as the only measurement tool.

CONCLUSIONS

There are many challenges in using initial screening tools to identify children with motor difficulties. Nevertheless, many promising questionnaires are being developed that can provide information on functional skills and limitations across a variety of tasks and settings in the daily lives of children with DCD. The review provides much needed information about the current scales used in many clinical, educational and research settings. Implications for assessing psychometric properties of the developed questionnaires and further research are discussed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42018087532 .

Expérimentation d’une formation sur le trouble développemental de la coordination destinée aux enseignants en éducation physique

Purpose: Best DCD practices include developing the ability of teachers to promote the participation of children in physical activities. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a one-day training session, including short lectures and workshops on developmental coordination disorder (DCD), on the perceptions that physical education teachers (PET) have of the knowledge, skills, and pedagogical practices. Methods: cohort study with a mixed pre-post-follow-up design that included a questionnaire before, immediately after, and three months after the training. Descriptive analyses, Wilcoxon tests, and a thematic analysis were performed. Results: 38, 35, and 22 PET respectively filled out the questionnaires at the three time-point. The perceptions of the knowledge, skills, and pedagogical practices of the PET were higher after the training compared to the initial perceptions (p < 0.006). At first, the PETs reported using certain general pedagogical strategies (e.g., modifying the task). After the training, the PETs gave more concrete examples and reported using new strategies (e.g., offering feedback after the task), which seems to have decreased behavioural problems. Conclusions: training can favourably modify the PETs' perceptions on their knowledge, skills, and practices. More research is necessary to assess the impact of the participation of children with a DCD.