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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00465686

Effect of Ergonomic Classroom Furniture on the Printing Legibility of Elementary Students With Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this pilot study is to gather the data needed to do a larger research study to determine whether children with cerebral palsy print better sitting at an ergonomically-designed, custom-fitted school desk or at an oversized, standard school desk.

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Key information

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases

Age range

6 year–8 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Bloorview Research Institute, Bloorview Kids Rehab

Toronto, Ontario, M4G 1R8, Canada

About this study

This pilot study will allow us to gather information for a high-quality randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of ergonomic school furniture as a remedial handwriting intervention for young students with cerebral palsy. We will conduct the study in two parts. In the first part, 30 children with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I and II cerebral palsy will each provide manuscript handwriting samples using two different school furniture configurations. A blinded assessor will score the legibility of handwriting samples using the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (MHA) as a primary outcome measure. In the second part, seven occupational therapy experts will attend a focus group to help us determine the minimal clinically important difference score for the MHA. We will use the data collected to determine the sample size requirements for a proposed randomized controlled trial.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • primary diagnosis of cerebral palsy
  • functional status of Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I or II

Exclusion criteria

  • genetic disorder;
  • attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; or,
  • pervasive developmental disorder

Treatment and study plan

ergonomic chair and desk (Q-Learn Classic Chair and Q-Learn Desk)

Device

ergonomic school chair and desk adjusted to fit the child user as per the manufacturer's instructions

Other names: Q-Learn Classic Chair and Q-Learn Desk

ergonomic desk and chair (Q-Learn Desk)

Device

child sits on chair and desk for 5 minutes, then provides handwriting sample at one desk, then repeats this for the other desk

Other names: Q-Learn Desk

Primary outcomes

  1. Minnesota Handwriting Assessment

    Time frame: 5-10 minutes

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Ergonomic Classroom Furniture and the Printing Legibility of Elementary School Students With CP

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2008
First posted
Apr 25, 2007
Registry last updated
May 9, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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