Exploring changes over time in habilitation professionals' perceptions and applications of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, version for Children and Youth (ICF-CY).
OBJECTIVE
This study explored how professionals in inter-disciplinary teams perceived the implementation of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, version for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) in Swedish habilitation services.


METHODS
Descriptive longitudinal mixed-methods design.


METHODS
Following participation in a 2-day in-service training on the ICF-CY, 113 professionals from 14 interdisciplinary teams described their perceptions of the implementation of the ICF-CY at 3 consecutive time-points: during in-service training, after 1 year, and after 2.5 years.


RESULTS
Implementation of the ICF-CY in daily work focused on assessment and habilitation planning and required adaptations of routines and materials. The ICF-CY was perceived as useful in supporting analyses and in communication about children's needs. Professionals also perceived it as contributing to new perspectives on problems and a sharpened focus on participation.


CONCLUSIONS
Professionals indicated that the ICF-CY enhanced their awareness of families' views of child participation, which corresponded to organizational goals for habilitation services. An implementation finding was a lack of tools fitting the comprehensive ICF-CY perspective. The study points to the need for ICF-CY-based assessment and intervention methods focusing on child participation.
Adolfsson
Margareta
M
CHILD, School of Education and Communication, Jönkoping University, Jönköping, Sweden. margareta.adolfsson@hlk.hj.se
Granlund
Mats
M
Björck-Akesson
Eva
E
Ibragimova
Nina
N
Pless
Mia
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000145:classification* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007318:Inservice Training; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce