Goal-Orientated Group Intervention for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Abstract

This study measures the effectiveness of a goal-orientated group intervention using concentrated practice schedules for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The study design is repeated measures. The sample comprises eight children with DCD, aged 7-11 years. Outcome measures are the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Harter's Scale of Perceived Competence/Harter and Pike's Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence, and clinical observations. The children set goals with the perceived efficacy and goal setting system with parents/caregivers input. The intervention used a goal-oriented approach combining motor learning and cognitive strategies consisting of eight 50-min sessions over 2 weeks. The results show significant improvements in the COPM and MABC scores following intervention but no changes in Harter's scores. Fifty-six goals were identified with 34 met totally, 12 met partially, and 10 remained unmet. A goal-oriented group intervention shows potential as an effective intervention method.

Effectiveness of a Summer Camp Intervention for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

“…These findings are consistent with other research where children with DCD demonstrated significant improvement in their chosen goals but no changes were found in self-efficacy after participating in group-based intervention (Dunford, 2011;Mazzoni et al, 2009). Mazzoni et al (2009) propose that feelings of competence tend to be stable over time and therefore are more difficult to change.…”

“…Mazzoni et al (2009) propose that feelings of competence tend to be stable over time and therefore are more difficult to change. Likewise, Dunford (2011) found that the majority of participants' self-efficacy ratings were within normal range prior to participating in the intervention, but that the scholastic and physical domains had the lowest ratings; this suggests that children had insight into their areas of difficulty. These findings suggest that self-efficacy is a complex construct influenced by many factors and may be difficult to improve over short durations of time.…”

“…Intervention in real-life settings is preferable to clinic settings in order to promote generalizability (Missiuna et al, 2006). Benefits to group therapy have also been reported (Dunford, 2011;Hung & Pang, 2010).…”

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: The Effects of Combined Intervention on Motor Coordination, Occupational Performance, and Quality of Life

“…No further significant changes were observed at T3. This result is similar to that of Dunford (2011), who found that the scores concerning satisfaction and performance were similar at a followup evaluation. The parents observed initial changes shortly after the first sessions of the intervention, and then they adapted their expectations to the difficulties of their child.…”

Effects of two distinct group motor skill interventions in psychological and motor skills of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A pilot study

“…With Program A, the intervention consisted of task-oriented activities that required collaboration among members. Children were encouraged to cooperate and support each other and M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 7 watching/discovering new strategies to perform the skills 18 . One trained instructor administered the sessions while four additional assistants supported the children in performing the activities.…”