Outcome parameters in spinal cord injury research: a systematic review using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference

Abstract

Objectives: This study is part of the development of an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for spinal cord injury (SCI). Its specific objectives were to identify outcome parameters reported in published studies on individuals with SCI in the early post-acute and chronic situation, and to identify and quantify the concepts of the reported parameters using the ICF as a reference. Methods: Electronic searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL from 2001 to 2005 were carried out. All outcome parameters and their underlying concepts were retrieved from the included studies. These concepts were linked to categories of the ICF using standardized rules. Results: From the 6681 abstracts retrieved, 2205 were randomly selected (33.0%) and 281 studies met the inclusion criteria (12.7%). A total number of 5217 concepts were retrieved from standardized and non-standardized measures, of which 4049 (77.6%) could be linked to 175 different ICF categories: 56 out of 114 Body Functions, 19 out of 56 Body Structures, 62 out of 118 Activities and Participation and 38 out of 74 Environmental Factors categories. Second-level categories reported in 420% of all studies were pain, remunerative employment, health services, systems and policies, school education and higher education. Conclusion:The ICF provides a valuable reference to identify and quantify the concepts of measures focusing on SCI in the early post-acute and chronic situation. The findings show a great diversity in the consequences of SCI and underscore the importance of social participation and environment for people with SCI.

Long-term follow-up of patients with spinal cord injury with a new ICF-based tool

“…7 However, a limitation of the described tool might be the fact that the WHO qualifiers has not yet been validated and there is no generally accepted, psychometrically sound measure of participation. 12 During the systematic evaluation, which was undertaken 6 months after introduction of this tool, 98 different inputs and feedbacks of patients and team were analysed and the required adaptations were transferred.…”

Content validity of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire-Self-Report Version WORQ-SELF in a subgroup of spinal cord injury patients

“…5,19 The four questionnaires include the Short Form (SF36) 20 to address the concept of healthrelated quality of life, McGill Pain Questionnaire 21 to address pain and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 22 and Beck Depression Inventory 23 to address depression and anxiety (Table 3). Fourteen of the forty-six ICF categories (30%) of the WORQ-SELF were confirmed by the four questionnaires (Table 4).…”

“…These instruments were identified based on the systematic reviews conducted in the context of the development of the ICF Core Sets of SCI 19 and VR 5 and have already been previously linked to the ICF. Contents of the instruments and the WORQ-SELF were compared.…”

Systematic review of the methodological quality and outcome measures utilized in exercise interventions for adults with spinal cord injury

“…12 A recent review that linked outcome measures to the ICF in people with SCI reported a large number of outcomes were related to 'Body Structures' and 'Body Functions' components. 13 This particular review evaluated a random sample of any study involving individuals with SCI without specifically addressing exercise interventions. Linking outcome measures from exercise intervention studies to the ICF is helpful, as it provides a knowledge base about which ICF categories, domains and components have been most frequently targeted, and which areas need to be addressed further in future studies.…”