title: [Measuring Participation - Discussion of the Theoretical Foundations of Current Assessment Instruments].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For children and adolescents social participation is a central goal of rehabilitation processes. Available measurements and evaluation tools are exposed to the problem that the theoretical foundation of the construct of participation is still unclear as well as differentiation from activity in the International Classification of Functioning, Disabilities and Health (ICF/ICF-CY) of the WHO is not made sufficiently.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this article were (1) to illustrate the scientific discussions on the term and understanding of participation from rehabilitation science perspectives and (2) to conclude implications for practice and science.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search for participation instruments was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC und EMBASE in August 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The available instruments are based on very different definitions of participation. The discussion about the term seems to be not yet complete. A major demand is a better operationalization of activity and participation according to the ICF/ICF-CY in the instruments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Before using an existing instrument, the transferability should be tested for the own context. The theoretical assumptions of participation in conjunction to ICF/ICF-CY as well as the objectives of the instrument should all be clearly understood before using an existing instrument but also before the development of new instruments.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät Wirtschafts- & Sozialwissenschaften, Hochschule Nordhausen, Nordhausen.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010552:Personality Assessment; D058992:Social Participation