The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health, version for children and youth as a roadmap for projecting and programming rehabilitation in a neuropaediatric hospital unit.
OBJECTIVE
To test the impact of introducing a format based on the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health, version for children and youth (ICF-CY) as a road-map for in-hospital paediatric neuro-rehabilitation on target definition, intra-team communication and workload as perceived by involved professionals.


METHODS
Single-centre pilot testing with impact assessment.


METHODS
Team members of a tertiary care paediatric neurorehabilitation unit included 15 consecutive patients with severe neurological conditions.


METHODS
An ICF-CY based format for rehabilitation projection and programming was constructed and tested for 12 months. The format comprises 3 sections: project, programme, and follow-up. Impact on the rehabilitation team was assessed with a questionnaire.


RESULTS
All cases were described according to their specific needs with appropriate ICF-CY codes, and the interventions were linked to needs and targets. ICF-CY was judged an efficient tool in providing a road-map for rehabilitation in this setting, although concern was voiced about timing and workload.


CONCLUSIONS
ICF-CY may work as a road-map for in-hospital paediatric neuro-rehabilitation. Its implementation results in perceived improvements in the process. Training requirements and accurate evaluation of timing, workload and organizational context are critical issues that should be addressed before results from the present experience are generalized.
Martinuzzi
Andrea
A
E. Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano-Pieve di Soligo Research Centre, Via Costa Alta 37, IT-31015 Conegliano, Italy. andrea.martinuzzi@cn.lnf.it
Salghetti
Annamaria
A
Betto
Silvana
S
Russo
Emanuela
E
Leonardi
Matilde
M
Raggi
Alberto
A
Francescutti
Carlo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019091:Critical Pathways; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000145:classification* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires