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Effectiveness of Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance for autistic children with developmental

Melika Kangarani-Farahani^1,2, Sandy Thompson-Hodgetts³, Jill G Zwicker^2,4,5

¹Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

|August 14, 2024

Abstract

Aim:

To determine if the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention is effective in improving motor skills of autistic children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and whether motor gains are maintained 3 months after therapy.

Method:

In this quasi-experimental study, we recruited 27 autistic children (8-12 years) with DCD without intellectual disability. The treatment group received CO-OP intervention once weekly for 10 weeks, focusing on three child-chosen motor goals. The waitlist group received CO-OP 3 months later. Outcome measures included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (child ratings of motor performance and satisfaction), Performance Quality Rating Scale (therapist-observed movement quality), and the Bruninks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (motor ability).

Results:

Non-parametric analyses showed significant improvements (p < 0.013) in all outcomes. Follow-up analysis revealed significant improvements in performance (p < 0.001, W = 0.69), satisfaction (p < 0.001, W = 0.72), and movement quality (p < 0.001, W = 0.62). Despite slight declines at follow-up, overall improvements from pretest remained evident.

Interpretation:

The CO-OP intervention effectively improved motor skills of autistic children.

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