The Process of Current Care Guideline for Developmental Coordination Disorder in Finland

Oral
2024 Prague [Global Evidence Summit]
Asunta P1, Lano A2, Sätilä H3, Viholainen H4, Rantanen K5, Rantanen K6, Mäenpää H7, Mäenpää H8, Tuomisto R9, Arikka H10, Arikka H11, Martikainen S12, Teeriaho I13, Tigerstedt H14, Tigerstedt H15, Nuotio K16, Nuotio K17, Komulainen J17
1Likes, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland
2Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
3Department of Neuropediatrics, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland
4Department of Education, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
5Department of Rehabilitation and Psychosocial Support, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
6Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
7Motion Analysis Laboratory, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
8Children and Adolescents, Helsinki, Finland
94Fysio, Finland, Helsinki, Finland
10Department of Pediatric Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
11University of Turku, Turku, Finland
12Fysios Mehiläinen, Helsinki, Finland
13School and Student Healthcare, Etelä-Savo well-being area, Etelä-Savo, Finland
14Villa Vekara, Turku, Finland
15Tallinn Health Care College, Tallinn, Estonia
16Clinical Neurosciences, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
17Current Care Guidelines, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Helsinki, Finland

Background:

Current Care Guidelines are evidence-based clinical practice guidelines covering important issues related to Finnish health, medical treatment, and prevention of diseases. They are intended as a basis for treatment decisions and can be used by physicians, healthcare professionals, and citizens. The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim develops the guidelines in association with medical specialist societies.

Objectives:

The Finnish national guideline for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) aims to improve the early identification of children with DCD, standardize diagnostics and rehabilitation, improve the functioning of children and adolescents, and prevent or reduce long-term psychosocial problems.

Methods:

The international clinical practice guideline for DCD (Blank et al. 2019) gave the initial impetus for starting the process in Finland. The Current Care Guideline for DCD is based on the ICD-10/11 criteria and the recent research on DCD and assessment and treatment practices found to be appropriate in Finland for children who have been diagnosed with motor difficulties. An expert committee of 12 specialists and the Current Care Guidelines editorial team produced the first national evidence-based DCD guideline, which is undergoing a public opinion round before publication in spring 2024.

Results:

The guideline includes 20 different recommendation statements ranging from standardized diagnostic procedures to multiprofessional collaboration and rehabilitation according to the ICF framework. In Finland, the ICD-10 classification is used in healthcare. Accordingly, a diagnosis of DCD is now included in Code F82 Specific developmental disorder of motor function. In the updated ICD-11 classification, DCD will be diagnosed under the term Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder (6A04).

Conclusions:

The work will raise awareness of DCD in Finland and highlight the perspective of children and adolescents and their families.