Article

Participation is a key indicator of health and well-being and a critical
rehabilitation goal for individuals with disabilities. Despite the numerous
participation measures that have been developed, there is still an absence of
agreement on the definition, domains, and dimensions of this construct. The
result is that instruments intending to measure the same construct may actually
measure quite different aspects of daily life and therefore yield significantly
different findings. A solid conceptual model is needed to provide consistent
guidance for measurement selection and development. In this article we identify
the relevant content areas of participation and propose a conceptual model for
adults that is intended to apply across diagnoses, conditions, and settings. We
classified participation into 3 main domains: work and education, household, and
community. Subdomains are defined within each. The model was reviewed using a
semistructured survey by 8 rehabilitation measurement experts. Their feedback
regarding the relevance, clarity, and comprehensiveness of the model led to the
creation of an alternative structure in which the 3 main domains were
recategorized as productivity, social, and community. The proposed conceptual
model provides a clear framework for practitioners and researchers to understand
the concept of participation and to guide selection or development of measures.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS