Article

Third-party disability pertains to the consequences of a person's
impairment which impacts on the functioning and ability of their family members
or significant others. With the emergence of research demonstrating the pervasive
effects of dysphagia following head and neck cancer (HNC) on the carer, the aim
of this study was to identify the International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF) domains and categories that describe the third-party
disability of carers of people with dysphagia following HNC. METHOD: Twelve
carers of people with dysphagia following HNC participated in individual
semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Categories and sub-categories identified
from the qualitative analysis were mapped to the ICF using the established
linking rules. RESULTS: The majority of the categories and sub-categories from
the qualitative analysis were successfully linked to the ICF with most linking to
the Activities and Participation component. A number of contextual factors were
also identified as impacting on the functioning of carers. CONCLUSIONS: The ICF
can be successfully used to describe the third-party disability in carers of
people with dysphagia following HNC management. This information could be used by
clinicians, researchers and policy makers to help establish evidence-based
guidelines that include carers in the assessment and management of dysphagia
associated with HNC. Implications for Rehabilitation Clinical levels of distress
and reduced quality of life have been associated with caring for a person with
dysphagia following head and neck cancer. The flow-on effects of dysphagia
experienced by a carer or close family member can be understood as a third-party
disability, which impacts on their functioning, activities and participation in
the context of the environment and personal factors. Using the ICF to describe
the indirect effects of dysphagia on the carer may help to guide the assessment
and support of this population, and advocate for the inclusion of the concerns of
the carer in dysphagia management.

Langue : ANGLAIS