Jessica McGarrigle|Alison Nelson
Evaluating a school skills programme for Australian Indigenous children: a pilot study
University of Queensland|University of Queensland
abstract purpose study evaluate effectiveness occupational therapy skill development programme improving handwriting scissor use visual motor coordination classroom behaviour group gradeone australian urban indigenous students sample n 13 randomly assigned experimental group comparison group groups exposed intervention experimental group received six week school skills programme addition regular schooling comparison group received regular schooling following comparison group received six week programme participants underwent pre posttesting using beerybuktenicas developmental test visual motor integration conners abbreviated symptom questionnaire two nonstandardized handwriting scissor skill measures results indicated participants significantly improved aspects handwriting scissor skills behaviour visual motor coordination following participation programme experimental group demonstrated greater improvements handwriting ability scores p 0037 compared comparison group concluded schoolbased occupational therapy programme effective improving handwriting group gradeone australian indigenous children copyright 2006 john wiley amp sons ltd