International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for patients with acute arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this consensus process was to construct a preliminary version of the ICF Core Set for acute inflammatory arthritis.


METHODS
The development of the ICF Core Set involved a formal decision-making and consensus process, integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies including focus groups of health professionals, a systematic review of the literature, and empiric data collection from patients.


RESULTS
Thirty-three experts selected a total of 79 second-level categories for the Comprehensive Core Set and 40 second-level categories for the Brief Core Set. The largest number of categories was selected from the ICF component Activities and Participation (28 categories or 35%). Eighteen (23%) of the categories were selected from the component Body Functions, 13 (16%) from the component Body Structures, and 20 (25%) from the component Environmental Factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICF Core Set for acute arthritis is a clinical framework designed to comprehensively assess patients in acute care hospitals and early post-acute rehabilitation facilities. This preliminary version of the ICF Core Set will be further tested through empiric studies in German-speaking countries and internationally.
Grill
E
E
ICF Research Branch of the WHO FIC Collaborating Center (DIMDI), Institute for Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany.
Zochling
J
J
Stucki
G
G
Mittrach
R
R
Scheuringer
M
M
Liman
W
W
Kostanjsek
N
N
Braun
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D001168:Arthritis / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017144:Focus Groups; D006304:Health Status; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D010358:Patient Participation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D014944:World Health Organization