Which outcomes are key to the pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with developmental coordination disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Purpose of this study was to determine what key aspects of function should be incorporated to make up a pre-intervention assessment profile of a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD); more specifically, what aspects of functioning are implicated in DCD and what is their relative impact?

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, for which Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Proquest were searched (last update: April 2023, PROSPERO: CRD42023461619). Case-control studies were included to determine point estimates for performances on field-based tests in different domains of functioning. Risk of bias was assessed, and level of evidence estimated. Random-effect meta-analyses were performed to calculate the pooled standardized mean differences for domains of functioning and subgrouping was done for clinically relevant subdomains. Heterogeneity was determined with I.

Results: 121 papers were included for analyses. Data of 5 923 children with DCD were included (59.8% boys) and 23 619 Typically Developing (TD) children (45.8% boys). The mean (SD) age of the DCD group was 10.3y (1.2) and 9.3y (1.3) for the TD children. Moderate evidence was found for motor performance, executive functions, sensory processing and perceptions, cognitive functions and sports and leisure activities to be affected in children with DCD.

Conclusion: Differences between the two groups varied per domain of functioning. This emphasizes the diversity present within children with DCD and provides a rationale for explaining the heterogeneity in this patient group. Yet, results highlight the potential involvement of all these domains and call for clinicians to be alert not only to examine motor skill difficulties but also other aspects of function. Results indicate the need to develop an individualized pre-intervention multi-dimensional assessment profile for each child with DCD. It also supports the important role that clinicians play in an interdisciplinary team to tackle the difficulties encountered by children with DCD.