Efficacy of Early Intervention Programmes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Early childhood intervention is a form of intervention aimed at children to overcome difficulties in different areas of their development after birth. There are multiple early intervention programmes, but only a few studies assess their efficacy using data. Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis of early intervention programmes was carried out. Method: Inclusion criteria were considered to be empirical studies, with outcome data on children between 0 and 6 years of age with various developmental problems. The review was conducted in nine databases. Results: Of the total number of studies from 2000 to 2021 in English and Spanish, 40 studies were included that looked at the efficacy of the programmes. Of these, 19 used comparisons with a control group, and 13 used single-subject designs, as well as other designs. The programmes were very diverse, mostly based on behavioural procedures, and aimed at promoting the development of specific areas. The quality of the studies is medium-high. The meta-analysis included 18 studies with a mean effect size d = 0.45 (CI = 0.18, 0.67), with high sample heterogeneity and low study selection bias. Conclusions: Early childhood interventions have a medium and positive efficacy on the skills and abilities of children with developmental problems. The limitations of the reviewed studies are discussed, as well as the need for well-defined programmes, long-term measurements, and comparisons of different types of programmes among them. Antecedentes: La atencion temprana es una forma de intervencion dirigida a ninos y ninas para intentar superar las dificultades en distintas areas de su desarrollo tras el nacimiento. Existen multiples programas, pero pocos estudios comparando con datos su eficacia. Objetivo: Se ha realizado una revision sistematica y un metaanalisis de los programas de atencion temprana. Metodo: Como criterios de inclusion se considero que fuesen estudios empiricos con resultados sobre ninos con diversos problemas de desarrollo entre 0 y 6 anos. La revision se realizo con nueve bases de datos. Resultados: Del total de estudios desde 2000 a 2021 en espanol e ingles se incluyeron 40 estudios que permitian ver la eficacia de los programas. De ellos 19 utilizaron comparaciones frente a un grupo control y 13 con disenos de caso unico, ademas de otros disenos. Los programas de atencion temprana fueron muy diversos, en su mayoria basados en procedimientos conductuales y dirigidos a impulsar el desarrollo de areas especificas. La calidad de los estudios es media-alta. En el metaanalisis se incluyeron 18 estudios con un tamano del efecto medio, d = 0.45 (CI = 0.18, 0.67), con gran heterogeneidad de las muestras y poco sesgo en la seleccion de estudios. Conclusiones: Los programas de atencion temprana presentan una eficacia media y positiva con respecto a las habilidades y capacidades de los ninos y ninas con problemas de desarrollo. Se comentan las limitaciones de los estudios revisados y la necesidad utilizar programas bien definidos, mediciones a largo plazo y comparaciones de diversos tipos de programas entre si.