Effectiveness of interventions to improve participation outcomes for children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review

Abstract

IntroductionDevelopmental coordination disorder affects a child’s motor abilities and participation across environments. This study aimed to review systematically the effectiveness of interventions using a motor, cognitive or psychological approach on participation outcomes in children with developmental coordination disorder.MethodA systematic review of the literature published between 2001 and November 2017 was conducted. Eight electronic databases were searched: Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Education Full Text (H. W. Wilson databases), SPORTDiscus (all via EBSCO) and Scopus (Web of Science).ResultsIn total, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria: seven randomised controlled trials, two quasi-experimental and three case series. Systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis was not possible given the heterogeneity of research designs, interventions and outcome measures. Limited evidence for participation outcomes was found. The cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance intervention found a between-group effect on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) outcome measure performance, g = 1.0 (0.02, 1.9), and COPM satisfaction, g = 1.4 (0.4, 2.3), in favour of the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance for one randomised controlled trial. Large significant within-group effects were found for the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance intervention on the COPM outcome measure COPM satisfaction, d = –2.1 (–5.2, –0.2).ConclusionMore high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base regarding occupational therapy interventions to improve participation outcomes for children with developmental coordination disorder.