Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Croatian developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (DCDQ-HR)

BACKGROUND: Developmental coordination disorder is a condition characterized by impaired motor skills, which can have a significant impact on participation and quality of life. Evaluation and diagnosis using valid instruments is critical for ensuring timely and appropriate intervention. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation and examine the psychometric properties of a Croatian adaptation of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ), a 15-item parent questionnaire designed to evaluate the impact of motor coordination difficulties on performance in everyday activities. METHODOLOGY: Questionnaire adaptation was conducted according to guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of measurement instruments. The Croatian adaptation of the questionnaire was completed by parents of 413 children (5-15 years). Factor structure was examined using exploratory, following by confirmatory, factor analyses. Gender and age distributions were examined using inferential statistics. RESULTS: Internal consistency and item-total correlations were high. Inferential statistics revealed a statistically significant difference in overall scores for sex, but not age. Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor solution different from the 3-factor solution found for the original version of the questionnaire, in which items were grouped under the following 4 factors: ball coordination, fine motor/handwriting, control during movement, and general coordination. Other tests of validity indicated that items under each factor measure unique aspects of motor coordination while at the same time being logically related to one another. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the Croatian adaptation of the DCDQ is a potentially useful instrument for understanding and evaluating the impact of motor coordination difficulties on daily activities. Further research is necessary to more clearly determine the scale's factor structure and to confirm age cutoffs for screening purposes.