Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40261859›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Understanding the impact of developmental coordination disorder on Belgian children and families: A national survey study.

Amy De Roubaix, Griet Warlop, Dorine Van Dyck, Delphine Van Crombrugge, Silke Van den Abbeele, Melissa Licari, Hilde Van Waelvelde, Lynn Bar-On

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Amy De RoubaixFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-9625-5187
Griet WarlopFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Dorine Van DyckDepartment of Neuropsychology and Speech Therapy, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital (HUDERF) - Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
Delphine Van CrombruggeFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Silke Van den AbbeeleFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Melissa LicariTelethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Hilde Van WaelveldeFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Lynn Bar-OnFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDevelopmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is an under-recognized and often trivialized neurodevelopmental condition impacting five to six percent of children. This study aimed to map the impact of DCD on children and their families in Belgium.

methodsThe Australian 'Impact for DCD' questionnaire was translated and adapted to suit the Belgian context. Parents of 4-to-18-year-old children living in Belgium with movement difficulties consistent with DCD were invited to complete the online survey covering diagnosis, activities, school, therapy, and social and emotional impact.

resultsA total of 491 children were included in the analyses. First concerns emerged primarily at home (61.4%) at age 3.3 ± 2.25y, with help sought at age 4.7 ± 2.57y. Formal diagnosis occurred at age 6.9 ± 2.36y, with DCD (76.5%) and/or dyspraxia (38.4%) the most frequently received terms. DCD was generally unknown, especially within school settings. Nearly one in four children (23.2%) repeated a year of school. Reduced sleep quality (50.6%), fatigue after school (76.0%), difficulties with toilet training (47.9%) and speech articulation (52.3%), as well as elevated emotional problems (52.7%) and peer-related issues (46.4%), were prevalent. Most children received therapy (89.2%) but 59.1% of parents did not feel adequately supported to assist their child. Moreover, 37.5% of parents regularly took time off work to facilitate their child's therapy attendance, while 49.1% had reduced their working hours or were contemplating doing so (16.7%). Parents expressed concerns about their child's future and well-being, with a prominent plea for guidance on supporting their child and increased awareness. Parents reported important strengths in their children, including empathy, creativity, cognitive abilities, perseverance, and good social and/or language skills.

conclusionsThese results highlight the significant impact of DCD from parents' perspectives. The next step is to explore ways to empower and support parents, raise awareness, and collaborate with policymakers to address these challenges.

Indexed as

Motor Skills DisordersAdolescentBelgiumChildChild, PreschoolFamilyFemaleHumansMaleParentsSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40261859
PMCPMC12013903

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.