The newly updated linking rules will allow researchers systematically to link and compare meaningful concepts contained in them. This should prove extremely useful in selecting the most appropriate outcome measures among a number of candidate measures for the applied interventions. Further possible applications are the operationalization of concrete ICF categories using specific measures or the creation of ICF category-based item bankings.

A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for stroke. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were defined.

Study design: Systematic literature review. Objectives: To examine the current knowledge of how social support and social skills are associated with aspects of health, functioning and quality of life of persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted. The literature search was carried out in Pubmed, PsycINFO, ERIC (Educational Resources Information Centre), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Embase and SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index). Publications were identified according to predefined eligibility criteria; study qualities were evaluated, study results extracted and a narrative synthesis was compiled. Results: In all, 58 publications about social support and SCI were included. Social support was positively related to physical and mental health, pain, coping, adjustment and life satisfaction. Social skills were assessed in 11 studies: social problem solving (n¼7), assertiveness (n¼3), verbal communication (n¼1) and self-monitoring (n¼1) were examined. Effective problem-solving skills were related to better mental health outcomes, health prevention behavior and less secondary conditions. Assertiveness was related to higher depression in rehabilitation setting. Interventions targeted at social support or social skills were scarcely studied. Only one study examined the relationship between social skills and social support in SCI. Conclusion: Social support is associated with better health and functioning in individuals with SCI. However, the full range of social skills has not yet been studied in people with SCI. Furthermore, the role of social skills in relation to social support, health and functioning remains unclear. Better understanding of social skills and social support in SCI could facilitate the development of targeted and effective interventions to enhance functioning of people with SCI.

The analysis of the literature shows that PF is seen as relevant to the application of the ICF in various settings. The review revealed a need for standardisation of PF. The literature points to the potential of PF in enhancing the understanding of functioning, disability and health, in facilitating interventions and services for people with disabilities, and strengthening the perspective of individuals in the ICF.

The present study provides an overview on current HRQoL measures in stroke with respect to their covered contents and provides valuable information to facilitate the selection of appropriate instruments for specific purposes in clinical as well as research settings.

Study design: Systematic literature review. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to gain a systematic overview of the role of psychological resources in the adjustment to spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A systematic literature review was performed. The literature search was conducted in the databases Pubmed, PsycINFO, the Social Sciences Citation Index, the Education Resources Information Center, Embase and the Citation Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature. The assessed variables, measurement instruments, results and the methodological quality of the studies were extracted, summarized and evaluated. Results: A total of 83 mainly cross-sectional studies were identified. Psychological resources were categorized into seven groups: self-efficacy (SE), self-esteem, sense of coherence (SOC), spirituality, optimism, intellect and other personality characteristics. SE and self-esteem were consistently associated with positive adjustment indicators such as high well-being and better mental health. Interrelations between psychological resources and key rehabilitation outcome variables such as participation were rarely studied. Only a few interventions, which were aimed at strengthening psychological resources were identified. Longitudinal studies suggested that SE, SOC, spirituality and purpose in life were potential determinants of adjustment outcomes in the long term. Conclusion: Research on psychological resources in SCI is broad, but fragmented. Associations of psychological resources with mental health and well-being were frequently shown, while associations with participation were rarely studied. Further development of resource-based interventions to strengthen persons with SCI is indicated. This review can serve as guide for clinical practice and can add to the design of future SCI research.

A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for rheumatoid arthritis. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were defined.

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