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Manual function outcome measures in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): Systematic review
Eleonora Bieber1, Bouwien C M Smits-Engelsman2, Giuseppina Sgandurra3
1Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
This review evaluated tools for assessing manual function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A combination of measures is recommended for comprehensive assessment, with further research needed on psychometric properties.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Occupational Therapy
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects children's motor skills, impacting daily activities.
- Accurate assessment of manual function is crucial for effective intervention in children with DCD.
- Existing outcome measures require systematic evaluation for their clinical utility and psychometric properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the clinical and psychometric properties of manual function outcome measures for children aged 3-18 years with DCD.
- To identify tools assessing manual function at the body function, activity, and participation levels of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth version (ICF-CY).
- To guide the selection of appropriate assessment tools for children with DCD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of three electronic databases for manual function tools used in children with DCD.
- Study selection and data extraction performed by two blind assessors using the CanChild Outcome Measures Rating Form.
- Identification and categorization of clinical tests, naturalistic observations, and questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Nineteen clinical tests (7 fine hand, 12 handwriting), 3 naturalistic observations, and 6 questionnaires were identified.
- Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, and Functional Strength Measurement show potential for capacity assessment.
- Systematic Detection of Writing Problems (SOS) and Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting (DASH) are recommended for handwriting assessment from specific ages.
- Naturalistic observations and questionnaires offer insights into daily performance but have limited psychometric data.
Conclusions:
- A combination of assessment tools is necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of manual function in children with DCD, covering ICF-CY domains.
- Further research is warranted to investigate the psychometric properties of identified tools specifically in the DCD population.
- Applicability of tools validated in other populations for assessing manual function in children with DCD should be explored.
