Abstract
How do we most effectively deliver services to children with poor motor skills?
Emily Ward
PhD candidate, School of Health Sciences,
University of South Australia
Between 5-15 percent of school aged children have developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Children with this condition are often known as clumsy. The condition can impact on a child’s ability to participate in physical activity, interfere with academic performance and make activities such as dressing difficult to master independently.
Early treatment has shown to be successful in managing DCD however there is little information on treatment delivery. This study explores which setting and personnel provide the best outcomes for treatment.
Ninety-three children from 13 schools, aged 5-8 years were recruited to participate in this study. Participants received a group program running for 13 weeks, working on movement skills. Schools were randomised to receive one of three types of delivery. Group one schools received the program at school run by a school assistant, group two received the program in school run by a physiotherapist and group three received the intervention in a health clinic run by a physiotherapist.
Participants were assessed pre and post treatment, and 6 months after the program completion using tests to assess movement skills and the child’s sense of competence.
The results show that the children’s movement skills improved to a significant level and that this improvement was maintained 6 months later for all modes of service delivery. Early analysis also shows the participants to have improved self perception of physical abilities.
These results indicate that the program can be run by either a physiotherapist or school assistant in the school or health environment and provide successful outcomes.
