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. 2022 Sep 24;10(10):1860.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10101860.

Measuring Disability among Migrants with Washington Group Tools: Reflections for Field Use

Marco Tofani  1   2 , Giovanni Galeoto  1   3 , Anna Berardi  1 , Silvia Iorio  4 , Antonella Conte  1   3 , Giovanni Fabbrini  1   3 , Donatella Valente  1   3 , Maurizio Marceca  5
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Measuring Disability among Migrants with Washington Group Tools: Reflections for Field Use

Marco Tofani et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Measuring disability among migrants is a significant challenge; however, there is no consensus on how to measure disability and functional limitations. The present study reports a methodological approach to measure disability in refugees and asylum seekers using Washington Group (WG) tools, namely the WG Short Set (WG-SS), the Short Set Enhanced (WG-SS-E), and the Extended Set on Functioning (WG-ES). We interviewed 161 migrants in different regions of Italy. The recommended threshold for each WG tool was used. We identified 13.7% of migrants with disabilities using the WG-SS, 21.7% using the WG-SS-E, and 31.6% using the WG-ES. Anxiety and depression were the main weights to identify migrants with disabilities (11.8%). The WG-SS does not measure mental health, and therefore we do not suggest its use in the field. However, the WG-SS-E, together with some questions on pain and fatigue, should be considered to identify migrants with a greater risk of disability.

Keywords: Washington group; activity; asylum seekers; disability; functioning; mental health; methodology; migrants; participation; refugees.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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