Home > Effectiveness of interventions for school-aged-children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hilly, Catherine and Wilson, Peter H and Lucas, Barbara and McGuckian, Thomas B and Swanton, Ruth and Froude, Elspeth H (2024) Effectiveness of interventions for school-aged-children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46, (9), pp. 1708-1733. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2207043.

External website: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638...

PURPOSE: To describe allied health and educational interventions and their effectiveness for children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). To appraise the quality and strength of studies.

METHODS: Electronic databases were searched between 2005 and March 2022, identifying non-pharmacological studies supporting function, activity, or participation for FASD participants aged 5-18 years using any quantitative research design. Outcomes were coded using International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, family of Participation Related Constructs and behaviour categories. Multi-level random-effects meta-analysis examined intervention effects. Study methodological quality was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias tools, RoBiNT, AMSTAR 2 and NHMRC Hierarchy levels of evidence. Certainty of findings were synthesised using GRADE approach.

RESULTS: The systematic review included 25 studies with 735 participants, 10 of which were analysed by meta-analysis. Body function and structure, activity, behaviour, and sense of self outcomes were pooled. A small, positive effect favouring interventions was found ( = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.15-0.43), however the GRADE certainty was rated as low. No participation outcomes were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Some interventions targeting body function and structure, activity and behaviour outcomes were effective. Evidence of interventions that support children's and adolescent's participation as an outcome is lacking.


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