Functioning in lymphoedema from the health professionals' perspective using the international classification of functioning, disability and health as a reference.
OBJECTIVE
To capture the views of different health care providers involved in the treatment of patients with lymphoedema from various countries around the world on the functioning of lymphoedema patients and the factors influencing functioning of these patients using the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF).


METHODS
A worldwide e-mail survey with questions based on components of the ICF.


RESULTS
In total, 142 health professionals from seven different health professions and 20 different countries answered the questions. The aspects of functioning that were named by the health professionals could be linked to 359 different ICF categories. Of these categories, 109 belonged to body functions (30.4%), 55 to body structures (15.3%), 121 to activities and participation (33.7%) and 74 to environmental factors (20.6%). Overall, the most mentioned items were health services, systems and policies, immunological system functions, looking after one's health, products and technology for personal use in daily life and dressing.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICF provided a valuable reference for identifying concepts in statements from international health care professionals experienced in the treatment of lymphoedema patients. The results of this research will be used in the development of ICF core sets for lymphoedema.
Department of Dermatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands pivie@casema.nl.
Peter B
PB
Viehoff
Faculty of Healthcare dept. of Skin Therapy, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Lianne
L
Pelzer
Dutch Institute of Allied Health Care, Amersfoort, the Netherlands Research Centre for Rehabilitation, Work, and Sports, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Yvonne F
YF
Heerkens
Dutch Institute of Allied Health Care, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
Dorine C
DC
van Ravensberg
Department of Dermatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Martino
M
Neumann
D004487:Edema / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
ICF core set; MeSH: internet survey; Non MeSH: international classification of functioning; lymphoedema