Child Development Outcomes of DIR/Floortime TM-based Programs: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Occupational therapy is integrated into the Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR) Floortime Model.
• This model prioritizes children's emotional development, recognizing its foundational role in overall development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on child development outcomes associated with the DIR Floortime Model.
• To guide practitioner decision-making regarding the model's application in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane.
• The McMaster Critical Review tool was employed for the critical appraisal of identified studies.

Main Results:

• Nine studies were included, exhibiting varied quality.
• The primary reported outcome across studies was enhanced socio-emotional development in children.

Conclusions:

• The research base for the DIR Floortime Model is still developing.
• Recommendations include supporting the model with clinical reasoning, intervention fidelity, valid outcome measures, and monitoring.
• There is an urgent need for higher-quality research to advance the evidence base.