Down Syndrome, Feeding Problem, Occupational Therapy
Conditions
Keywords
Down Syndrome, Occupational Therapy, Home Program, Sensory Function, Randomized, Control Trial
Brief summary
Children with Down Syndrome frequently encounter difficulties with sensory functions and feeding, such as oral sensory processing issues and developmental disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an Occupational Therapy Home Program on the sensory functions and feeding issues of children with Down Syndrome.
Detailed description
Although there are studies that investigate nutritional issues in children with Down syndrome, no well-structured, high-evidence, and individual-centered studies have been found. The literature assumes a relationship between the sensory functions and nutritional status of children with Down syndrome. Therefore, further studies are needed to develop intervention programs to prevent sensory processing and nutritional problems. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy home programs in improving sensory functions and feeding problems in children with Down syndrome. The study focuses on evidence-based practices to assess the impact of these programs compared to not providing them. The study will be conducted with children diagnosed with Down Syndrome who have applied to the Pediatrics Unit of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences. The study comprises pre-evaluation, final evaluation, and intervention stages. Following the initial evaluation, an occupational therapy home intervention program will be implemented for the children before and after each meal, seven days a week, for eight weeks. Evaluations will be repeated after the eight-week period.
Interventions
OTHEROccupational therapy home program
After evaluating the children, an occupational therapy home intervention program will be developed for each child. The program will be monitored through telephone and computer interviews, as well as video, photo, and audio recordings. The interventions in this study were selected based on successful occupational therapy home programs for children with disabilities. The program consists of five steps. Step 1 is to establish collaborative relationships with parents. Step 2 is to determine the most appropriate goals for the child and their family. Step 3 involves selecting the most suitable therapeutic activities to achieve these goals. Step 4 is to educate and support parents in performing these therapeutic activities. Finally, Step 5 involves measuring the results and providing feedback.
Sponsors
Bezmialem Vakif University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Intervention model description
Two groups. Intervention and control groups.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Be between the ages of 3-10 * Having Down Syndrome * Families agree to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
* Having previously received sensory integration and/or occupational therapy treatment * Having a secondary diagnosis other than Down Syndrome (Mental Retardation, etc.)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory Profile | 8 weeks | The Sensory Profile developed by Winnie Dunn was used to evaluate sensory processing skills in Turkish. This assessment is suitable for children aged three to ten. The test is completed by an occupational therapist, accompanied by the person who has the most contact with the child in their daily life. Each item is scored on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. The Sensory Profile consists of three parts: sensory processing, modulation, and behavioral-emotional responses. Each part has 14 parameters. The score indicates the level of sensitivity, with lower scores indicating hypersensitivity, higher scores indicating hyposensitivity, and middle values indicating typical performance. |
| Screen Tool of Feeding Problems (STEP) | 8 weeks | The study used the Systematic Tool for Evaluating Progress (STEP) to identify feeding challenges and problematic feeding behaviours experienced by individuals with Down Syndrome (DS). STEP includes questions for parents or personnel who have worked with the individual for the last six months, asking about any abnormal behaviours observed in the last month. The survey consists of 23 items, each addressing a specific nutritional issue. The aforementioned issues are categorized into five subgroups: aspiration risk, food selectivity, feeding skills, behavioural problems related to food rejection, and behavioural problems related to nutrition. The study used the Systematic Tool for Evaluating Progress (STEP) to identify feeding challenges and problematic feeding behaviours experienced by individuals with Down Syndrome (DS). An increase in the score suggests an increase in nutritional problems. |
| Demographic Form | 8 weeks | The form completed by the child's primary caregiver includes information such as the child's age, gender, number of siblings, and the marital status of both parents. |
| A meal time | 8 weeks | The study recorded the child's average meal time as reported by their parents during the first and last evaluations. The event was documented in the minutes. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed