Article

PURPOSE: To describe functioning and disability in patients with traumatic brain
injury (TBI) according to the model endorsed by the International Classification
of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF). METHODS: Adult patients with acquired
TBI were consecutively enrolled. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the
WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) and the ICF checklist were
administered in individual sessions. Descriptive analyses were performed to
report on FIM and WHO-DAS II scores. ICF categories reported as a problem by more
than 20% of patients were described in detail. RESULTS: One hundred patients (66
males, mean age 36.1) were enrolled. Mean WHO-DAS II score was 16.8, mean FIM was
116.5 and 87 ICF categories were selected: 27 Body Functions (mainly mental and
movement-related) and Structures, 43 Activities and Participation (mainly
connected with mobility) and 17 Environmental Factors. Negligible difference
between capacity and performance qualifiers was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The ICF
can be successfully implemented in clinical and rehabilitation of patients with
TBI, because it enables to describe the variety of problems they encounter:
ICF-derived data provide a holistic view of disability and enable the impact of
service interventions on functioning and participation, and enable clinicians to
tailor intervention according to patient's actual needs.

Langue : ANGLAIS