Awareness and Knowledge of Developmental Coordination Disorder Among Healthcare Professionals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abdulaziz A. Al-Ahmari (), Abdullah A. Alshabaan, Ali A. Almeer, Mohammed N. AlKhater, Mohammed A. Al-Ibrahim, Hassan H. Altuwal, Alaeddin A. Al-Dajani, Saleh A. Alqahtani, Mohammed A. Al-Omari, Abdullah K. Almutairi and Faisal O. AlQurashi
Additional contact information
Abdulaziz A. Al-Ahmari: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah A. Alshabaan: College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Ali A. Almeer: College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed N. AlKhater: College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed A. Al-Ibrahim: College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Hassan H. Altuwal: College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Alaeddin A. Al-Dajani: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Saleh A. Alqahtani: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed A. Al-Omari: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah K. Almutairi: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia
Faisal O. AlQurashi: Department of Paediatrics, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34224, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a lifelong neurological disorder impairing the coordination and planning of motor and sensory tasks. Its functional manifestation includes difficulties in various aspects of daily living, making early diagnosis and management essential. This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study targeted healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province who work with children under the age of 18. The questionnaire was completed through field visit interviews and electronically via social platforms from October 2023 to March 2024, collecting data on demographics, professional experience, familiarity with related disorders, and awareness of dyspraxia symptoms. Of the participants, 21.2% had previously diagnosed at least one child with dyspraxia, with family physicians comprising 30% of those diagnoses. The overall mean knowledge score was 17%, ranging from 8.3% to 23.1%. The most recognized symptom was motor learning difficulties (22.7%), followed by gross and fine motor skill delays (22.3%). Notably, 65.15% of respondents were unsure about the gender distribution of dyspraxia. The findings align with international studies, showing significant knowledge gaps among healthcare providers in the Eastern Province. These findings also emphasize the need for targeted health promotion programs, promotional activities, and media involvement for enhancing public health outcomes, early identification, and better management of DCD.

Keywords: developmental coordination disorder; dyspraxia; motor delay; children; health promotion; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1602/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1602/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1602-:d:1534004

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().