An Investigation Into Gross Motor Skill Intervention Provisions for Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder in the Republic of Ireland: Cross Sectional Study.
Mary Mannion, Kieran Dowd, Niamh Ni Cheilleachair
PMID 40592355WHAT IT FOUND
Most children waited over six months for motor skill help.
When treatment arrived, it focused on daily living tasks rather than gross motor skills. Few parents were actively involved, despite high willingness to help at home.
Key findings
01Seventy-six percent of children were placed on a waiting list, with most waiting six months or longer.
02Treatment focused primarily on activities of daily living and functional tasks rather than gross motor skills.
03Only 14.3% of parents were actively involved in treatment, although 98.6% expressed willingness to help at home.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-reported diagnoses from parents, with no verification of medical records. Participants were recruited through support groups and social media, which may bias the sample toward families already seeking help. The survey was in English and online, excluding families who do not read English or lack internet access. The sample size was limited, and the study did not account for co-occurring conditions like autism or ADHD, which may influence treatment pathways. Parents' understanding of health service terminology and processes may have affected the accuracy of their responses.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rate of parental willingness to help as evidence that home programmes are currently effective or widely implemented. The study reports that very few parents are actually involved in treatment, and it does not measure the outcomes of any specific intervention strategy.