Structured Task-Focused Occupational Therapy in the School Environment to Support Academic Performance: Fine Motor and Visual-Motor Skills

NCT07723092 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IMU-OT-STFOT-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a structured, task-focused occupational therapy program delivered in the school environment on handwriting performance, fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, and academic performance in primary school children. Second- and third-grade students identified as being at risk for handwriting and manual dexterity difficulties will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive a 10-week school-based occupational therapy program consisting of two 30-minute sessions per week, for a total of 20 sessions. The control group will continue routine classroom activities without therapist-led occupational therapy. Handwriting, manual dexterity, visual-motor integration, visual perception, and motor coordination will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Academic grades will also be recorded, and individualized goal attainment will be evaluated in the intervention group.

Conditions

Visual Perception; Visual-Motor Integration; Handwriting

Keywords

School-Based Occupational Therapy; Task-Focused Occupational Therapy; Handwriting; Fine Motor Skills; Visual-Motor Integration; Academic Performance; Primary School Children

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Handwriting Performance Assessed by the Minnesota Handwriting Test

  Handwriting performance will be assessed using the Turkish version of the Minnesota Handwriting Test (MHT). The test includes 34 letters arranged in seven words and evaluates handwriting completion time, legibility, form, alignment, spacing, and size. Completion time is recorded in seconds, with shorter times indicating faster performance. Quality parameters are scored up to 34 points, with higher scores indicating better handwriting quality. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be compared between the intervention and control groups.

  Baseline and within 1 week after completion of the 10-week intervention (up to Week 11)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Manual Dexterity Assessed by the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test

  Baseline and within 1 week after completion of the 10-week intervention (up to Week 11)

• Change in Visual-Motor Performance Assessed by the Beery VMI

  Baseline and within 1 week after completion of the 10-week intervention (up to Week 11)

• Change in Academic Performance

  Baseline and within 1 week after completion of the 10-week intervention (up to Week 11)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Change in Individualized Goal Attainment Assessed by Goal Attainment Scaling

  Baseline and within 1 week after completion of the 10-week intervention (up to Week 11)

Study Arms (2)

Structured Task-Focused Occupational Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a 10-week structured task-focused school-based occupational therapy program delivered twice weekly in 30-minute sessions, for a total of 20 sessions. The program will target handwriting performance, fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, visual perception, and motor coordination.

Behavioral: Structured Task-Focused Occupational Therapy Program

Routine Classroom Activities

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will continue their routine classroom activities and teacher-assigned homework during the 10-week study period and will not receive therapist-led occupational therapy.

Interventions

Structured Task-Focused Occupational Therapy Program BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of a 10-week structured task-focused occupational therapy program delivered in the school environment. Participants will receive two 30-minute sessions per week, for a total of 20 sessions. The program will include task-oriented activities targeting handwriting performance, fine motor skills, manual dexterity, visual-motor integration, visual perception, and motor coordination.

Structured Task-Focused Occupational Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 9 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 7 and 9 years of age
• Being enrolled in the second or third grade
• Demonstrating basic literacy skills
• Being identified as high risk for handwriting and/or manual dexterity difficulties based on standardized assessments and teacher observations
• Being expected to maintain regular school attendance throughout the study period
• Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian

You may not qualify if:

• A diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Significant visual or hearing impairment
• An orthopedic or neurological condition affecting the upper extremity
• Current receipt of occupational therapy or special education services

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Güngören Yahya Çavuş Primary School

Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant, Department of Occupational Therapy, Istanbul Medipol University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2026
• First Posted: July 23, 2026
• Study Start: July 27, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 12, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 12, 2026
• Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)