Identifying Systems Developed for Classifying Physiotherapy Interventions in Neurological Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to conduct a scoping review of classification systems developed for physiotherapy interventions of persons with neurological conditions, describing the information captured, organizational structure, and methods used in development. Methods: Five electronic databases and grey literature were searched, three journals were hand searched, and all articles identified in electronic databases were forward searched. All article types except conference proceedings were considered. Articles were included if they were in English and described: a classification system developed to capture physiotherapy interventions, the contents of the classification system, and its use with neurological patient populations. Results: Twenty unique classification systems were identified that differed greatly in the amount of intervention detail described and in how they were developed and structured. Conclusion: There is significant heterogeneity in the amount of detail and structure between the classification systems. There is a need for continued work to develop a system or refine an existing system. A system should describe therapy activities in sufficient detail for communication and evaluative purposes, while considering the feasibility and acceptability across various contexts to ensure successful implementation.