title: A systematic scoping review of measures of participation in disability and rehabilitation research: a preliminary report of findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The concept of participation is emerging as a gold-standard of outcome measurement in disability and rehabilitation. We aimed to assess the status of methods to measure this new concept.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a scoping review and a content analysis to assess the literature on participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 586 articles addressing participation. Seventy-two articles passed all exclusion criteria. Twenty-four articles cited the International Classification of Function as their conceptual foundation. Most studies included individuals with a broad range of impairments (cross disability). Most instruments relied on self-report in a cross-sectional design. We noted three levels of measurement (static, interactional, and dynamic). Few studies reported collecting data on the environment along with participation. Subjective aspects of participation emerged as an important consideration but few articles reported measuring it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept of participation represents more than a "shift from negative to more positive language." It represents a transformational concept that requires new, dynamic measures collected in context.
authors.affiliation: Rural Institute, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. ruraldoc@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seekins
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shunkamolah
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertsche
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cowart
authors.forename: Jean Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reichard
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003256:Community Participation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012107:Research Design