Aux origines de la Grille Alternative Psychomotricité Prématurité Environnement Affectivité (GAPPEA) : une démarche de recherche clinique

Objectives

The article presents the genesis, functioning and content of the GAPPEA grid (Grille Alternative Psychomotricité Environnement Affectivité – Alternative Psychomotricity Environment Affectivity Grid), which was devised based on needs encountered in clinical practice in CAMSPs when dealing with premature babies and their families. It responds to the need to develop a new and original tool used by psychomotricians to guide and refine their clinical observations in this field.

Patients and methods

The grid takes up and puts to work preliminary studies on cohorts of 8-month-old babies, but it also involves the networking of several dozen psychomotricians around its use. It is based on a quantitative and qualitative approach.

Results

The grid was constructed as a guide for observing specific elements exploring different areas in terms of psychomotricity and is divided into five areas of observation (first observations, the baby's psychomotor discoveries, parent/child interaction and links, the baby's response to the psychomotrician's requests, links between the clinician and the family) with specific items presented in detail for each area. It gives pride of place to issues relating to parents.

Discussion

In terms of its experimental use, the grid is original in relation to existing supports and is adapted to the needs of psychomotricians working in this clinical field. The positive feedback received from professionals who have used it testifies to its usefulness.

Conclusions

The genesis and initial uses of GAPPEA suggest that it should be used in new ways in the field of clinical approaches to babies. Putting it to the test in new ways will also allow it to be transformed and even calibrated later.