ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions in the acute hospital

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this consensus process was to decide on a first version of the ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions in the acute hospital.

Methods: The ICF Core Set development involved a formal decision-making and consensus process, integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies including focus groups of health professionals, a systematic review of the literature and empiric data collection from patients.

Results: Twenty-one experts selected a total of 85 second-level categories. The largest number of categories was selected from the ICF component Body Functions (41 categories or 48%). Five (6%) of the categories were selected from the component Body Structures, 18 (21%) from Activities and Participation and 21 (25%) from Environmental Factors.

Conclusions: The Acute ICF Core Set for patients with neurological conditions provides all professionals with a clinical framework to comprehensively assess patients in the acute hospital. This first ICF Core Set will be further tested through empiric studies in German-speaking countries and internationally.