A remotely-delivered pilot and feasibility program to promote physical and food literacy in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
C Curtin, L G Bandini, M Forquer and 9 others
PMID 38520166WHAT IT FOUND
A remote pilot program for six teens with intellectual disabilities showed mixed results.
Participants improved in ball skills and food knowledge, but locomotor skills declined slightly. Most liked the sports and nutrition sessions, though half disliked home practice, and parents questioned if remote delivery worked well.
Key findings
01All six participants completed the twelve-session remote program, attending 87.5% of sessions.
02Overall motor skill performance increased with a moderate effect size, driven by improvements in ball skills, while locomotor skills decreased slightly.
03Food literacy knowledge improved, with correct food categorization rising from 64.7% to 79.3%, and parents reported increased willingness to eat vegetables.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was extremely small (N=6), preventing any statistical testing or generalizable conclusions. There was no control group, so observed changes cannot be definitively attributed to the intervention rather than natural development or other factors. The population was not diverse, with five of six participants being non-Hispanic White. The remote format posed significant barriers, with only two parents reporting adequate space for sports activities and half of the parents preferring in-person sessions. The study was underpowered and designed as a pilot, meaning the 'improvements' reported are preliminary and subject to high variability.
Declared interests
The study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the observed improvements in motor skills and food knowledge as proof of efficacy. This was a pilot study with only six participants, no control group, and no statistical testing. The mixed results, including a decline in locomotor skills and parental dissatisfaction with the remote format, suggest that this specific intervention design is not yet ready for clinical implementation.