@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2008-2630    Iranian Journal of War & Public Health 2020;12(4):271-277

Background
The overwhelming demand to control the COVID-19 outbreak has challenged healthcare workers, the medical procurement system, and sports professionals.
Previous Studies
... [1]. Potential effects of quarantine include circadian rhythm disturbances, increased energy intake, decreased energy consumption [1-3], as well as decreased cognitive and perceptual-motor abilities [4], which can be more prominent in patients [5]. ... [6-8]. Children with visual impairments have poor perceptions of cognitive-motor abilities and motor skills, such as balance and coordination [9]. Because children with visual impairments are not able to see normally, in most cases, this limits their activities while playing games and their motor development is significantly delayed [10]. ... [11-19]. The educational package includes different exercises and its production and use are an operational measure in the successful implementation of educational programs [20]. ... [21].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to design a perceptual-motor education package and evaluate its effectiveness on motor skills of children with visual impairment during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Research type
The present study was a quasi-experimental study.
Research society, place and time
This study was conducted on children aged 6 to 11 years with visual impairment in Yazd province in summer 2020.
Sampling method and number
Sample size using G * Power statistical software based on analysis of variance with repeated measures to perform the test at a significant level of 1% (α=0.01), a test power of 80% (β=0.2), the moderate effect size (d=0.3), and 2 replications, was estimated to be 30 cases (15 cases in each experimental group). To compensate for the loss of subjects during the study, 36 blind children or children with visual impairments were selected from the counseling centers of Yazd province using cluster sampling and randomly divided into the experimental (n=18) and control (n=18) groups.
Used devices&materials
In order to measure motor proficiency, the abbreviated form of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor proficiency was used with retest reliability of 0.87 and validity of 0.84 [22]. … [23, 24]. In order to design and develop a perceptual-motor education package to improve the motor skills of children with visual impairment, library studies were conducted [25-32]. In designing and developing the educational package, the age and cognitive status of children were taken into account. Diversity and being exciting were also considered to keep children motivated. In designing the games, in addition to strengthening the desired motor skills, daily life activities were also considered, and finally, 17 educational games were designed. In order to check the content validity, the training package was reviewed by several experts in this field; their suggestions were implemented and its problems were fixed and then the training package was implemented. In order to determine face validity, a questionnaire was given to 12 specialists in physical education, exceptional child psychology, educational psychology, and occupational therapy to determine the appropriateness of the content of the perceptual-motor training package designed for motor skills of children with visual impairments In this stage, using the formula for estimating the numerical face validity for each question and considering CV=0.59, two contents were removed and three contents changed. Also, the reliability of the perceptual-motor training package and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha measurement method [33] and was obtained 0.916. The sampling process began with the random selection of 4 counseling centers in Yazd province (Ziaei Meybod Counseling Center, Golshan Raz Meybod Counseling Center, Yazd Counseling and Psychological Services Center, and Mehregan Ardakan Counseling Center). Nine blind or partially sighted children from each center were enrolled in the study with the approval of an ophthalmologist (available in the pediatric medical record) who did not have underlying and systematic illnesses and whose parents' informed consent form was completed. Before the intervention, the subjects were tested for motor proficiency, and then, children were randomly divided into two experimental (training with perceptual-motor training package) and control (without training) groups. The selected training programs started with simple movement programs and were completed with specialized movement programs. The intensity of the exercises in the first sessions was very light, enjoyable, and without any pain and discomfort, and gradually, according to the principle of overload, the intensity of the exercises increased according to the children's ability. The experimental group was trained for 8 weeks and three days a week (24 sessions for 60 minutes) [23]. At the end of the intervention program, the post-test proficiency test similar to the pre-test conditions was taken from the experimental and control groups. After examining and confirming the possibility of performing a covariance test, the covariance test was used to compare the post-test scores of the two groups using SPSS 22 software at a significance level of 0.01.
Findings by Text
The mean age of the experimental and control groups was 01.09±0.91 and 01.64±0.94 years, respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. The mean post-test scores for all 8 subscales in the experimental group trained with the designed package were higher than the control group (Table 1). Because the results of the variance homogeneity test were not significant (F=0.562; d1=1; p=0.459), analysis of covariance could be used to interpret the data. The value of Eta squared in all subscales indicated a strong relationship between the designed package and the reduction of movement problems in visually impaired children (Table 2).
Main comparison to the similar studies
... [2, 3]. The results of the study showed that the perceptual-motor training package designed for the experimental group that did the exercises was better than the control group who did not receive the training package. The results of this study were consistent with those of Juliana et al., Chakran et al., and Mirzaei et al. [8, 31, 33]. ... [34, 35]. However, many movements require vision and some less require the use of vision, which can be reduced by training and using abilities of other senses to reduce differences between blind and partially sighted children and achieve the main goal, which is to gain individual independence and reduce social harm. In this process, the remaining parts do tasks that they were not normally responsible for [36, 37]. Congenitally blind people make good use of the flexibility of the brain and the structures of different areas of their brain are formed according to the remaining sensory information [37]. ... [38].
Suggestions
It is suggested that this package be provided to educators, caregivers, and families of these children due to its safety, applicability, low cost, and favorable consequences for motor function.
Limitations
Because this study was conducted at the beginning of the specific conditions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, there may be time constraints, limitations in the pattern of daily activities and rest, diversity, and differences in the social, economic, cultural, and health status of the community.
Conclusions
The designed perceptual-motor training package can improve motor skills of children with visual impairments, such as walking, running, jumping, object control, grabbing, aiming, and balance during quarantine to deal with the dangerous effects of activities with no need to move.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the management and all the staff of Meybod Psychological Counseling and Services Center, Golshan Raz Counseling Center in Meybod, Yazd Psychological Counseling and Services Center, and Mehregan Counseling Center in Ardakan city of Yazd province and all children and their parents.
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Ethical Permissions
This research received the ethics code of ID IR.IAU.KHUISF.REC.1398.137 from the National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research.
Funding Sources
This research was supported by the authors.

TABLES and CHARTS

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