Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF) model is adequate for assessing disability patterns
in stroke survivors in the sub-acute rehabilitation setting in terms of potential
changes in functional profiles over time. METHODS: Functional profiles of 197
stroke patients were assessed using the ICF Checklist and the Functional
Independence Measure (FIMTM) at admission and discharge from rehabilitation
hospital. The ICF Checklist was applied based on medical documentation and
rehabilitation team meetings. Descriptive analyses were performed to identify
changes in ICF categories and qualifiers from admission to discharge, and
correlations between different improvement measures were calculated. RESULTS:
Mean rehabilitation duration was 60 days; patients' mean age was 60 years, with
mean FIM-score 75 at admission. Mean FIM-score improvement at discharge was 12.5.
Within Body Functions, changes in at least 10% of patients were found regarding
13 categories; no categories within Body Structures, 24 within Activities and
Participation, and 2 within Environmental Factors. Changes were mostly due to
improvement in qualifiers, except for within Environmental Factors, where they
were due to use of additional categories. Correlations between improvements in
Body Functions and Activities and Participation (regarding capacity and
performance), as well as between capacity and performance within Activities and
Participation, were approximately 0.4. CONCLUSION: Rating ICF categories with
qualifiers enables the detection of changes in functional profiles of stroke patients who underwent an inpatient rehabilitation programme.

Langue : ANGLAIS