Development of a Conversion Table Linking Functional Independence Measure Scores to International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Qualifiers: Insights from a Survey of Healthcare Professionals

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) 2024-04, Vol.12 (8), p.831
• Main Authors: Umemori, Shu, Ogawa, Mao, Yamada, Shin, Komatsu, Masayo, Oikawa, Emiko, Okamoto, Yasuyo, Katoh, Masaki, Shirasaka, Tomohide, Abiko, Kagari, Moriizumi, Shigehiro, Matsuo, Yuichiro, Tohyama, Harukazu, Mukaino, Masahiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Bladder; Clinical medicine; Communication; Diagnosis; Disability; functioning; Health aspects; ICF; Independent living; Medical personnel; Medicine, Physical; Physical therapists; Practice; Professionals; qualifiers; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Social interaction; Surveys; Working groups
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12080831

In clinical practice, patient assessments rely on established scales. Integrating data from these scales into the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework has been suggested; however, a standardized approach is lacking. Herein, we tested a new approach to develop a conversion table translating clinical scale scores into ICF qualifiers based on a clinician survey. The survey queried rehabilitation professionals about which functional independence measure (FIM) item scores (1-7) corresponded to the ICF qualifiers (0-4). A total of 458 rehabilitation professionals participated. The survey findings indicated a general consensus on the equivalence of FIM scores with ICF qualifiers. The median value for each item remained consistent across all item groups. Specifically, FIM 1 had a median value of 4; FIM 2 and 3 both had median values of 3; FIM 4 and 5 both had median values of 2; FIM 6 had a median value of 1; and FIM 7 had a median value of 0. Despite limitations due to the irreconcilable differences between the frameworks of existing scales and the ICF, these results underline the ICF's potential to serve as a central hub for integrating clinical data from various scales.