The Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Review of the Qualitative Literature

Abstract

Introduction: This review investigates qualitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of motor interventions for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Method: Six databases were searched for qualitative studies conducted with school-age children with DCD and their parents to understand better which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for decreasing core symptoms and improving occupational outcomes. The Model of Human Occupation was used as a guide to structure the discussion and to illustrate how a model can be used to guide the therapeutic reasoning process regarding future intervention decisions. Findings: The findings suggest that, for many families, intervention that addressed everyday occupations and the social consequences for children with DCD was of the utmost importance. Most parents' greatest hope for intervention was to maximise their child's social participation and motivation. Parents described successful interventions that enabled their child to participate regularly in his or her chosen motor activities within the community and that created social participation opportunities. Although children reported similar concerns to parents, they also valued their ability to engage in self-care and play activities. Conclusion: The qualitative evidence supports the need for practitioners to incorporate the priorities of parents and children in order to optimise the outcomes of intervention. Parental and teacher education was highly valued by parents to help manage their uncertainty and worry associated with raising a child with DCD.