Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on stroke using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically identify and quantify the concepts contained in outcome measures in stroke trials using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials between 1992 and 2001 were located in MEDLINE and selected according to predefined criteria. Outcome measures were extracted and concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF.


RESULTS
A random sample of 160 (50%) of 320 eligible studies was included. A total of 148 standardized health status measures were identified. Of 11,283 extracted concepts, 91% could be linked to the ICF. The most used ICF categories for each component were d450 walking (70%) for activities and participation, b525 defecation functions (62%) for body functions, and e399 support and relationships, unspecified (30%) for environmental factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICF provides a useful reference to identify and quantify the concepts contained in outcome measures used in stroke trials. Outcome measurement in stroke refers to an enormous variety of concepts; for comparability of research findings agreement on what should be measured is needed.
Geyh
Szilvia
S
ICF Research Branch, WHO FIC Collaborating Center (DIMDI), IMBK, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
Kurt
Thomas
T
Brockow
Thomas
T
Cieza
Alarcos
A
Ewert
Thomas
T
Omar
Zaliha
Z
Resch
Karl-Ludwig
KL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D014944:World Health Organization