Implementation of ICF in goal setting in rehabilitation of children with chronic disabilities at Beitostolen Healthsports Centre

Abstract

Purpose: Develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Code Set, useful in goal oriented rehabilitation of a study population of children with chronic disabilities. Method: A triangulation of methods, using an interview to identify the main needs and goals of the study population, and a questionnaire to identify the main problems, with a registration of the frequency within each category. After qualitative and quantitative analyses this resulted in two sets of ICF categories. These two sets were then compared and merged into a proposed ICF Code Set for goal setting. Results: Thirty categories were identified from the interviews and the following linking process. Problems were reported in all suggested categories within the ICF questionnaire, resulting in 49 categories. The comparison of the two sets of categories resulted in a proposed ICF Code Set of 40 categories. Conclusions: Through a triangulation of methods, we developed a tailored code set for the goal setting process in rehabilitation for children with a disability, taking into account both individual preferences and the health professionals’ perspective. Although the external validity is limited, our methodological procedures may have relevance for the implementation of ICF in other clinical settings and populations.Implications for RehabilitationICF is increasingly used as the framework for goal setting in rehabilitation.Development of ICF Code Sets could provide a basis for individualized treatments through a structured goal planning process.A triangulation of methods in the development of such code sets, combining qualitative and quantitative methodology could be of value, seeing the health professionals’ perspective being enriched and deepened by the patients’ preferences.