ICF mobility and self‐care goals of children in inpatient rehabilitation

• Published in: Developmental medicine and child neurology 2020-04, Vol.62 (4), p.483-488
• Main Authors: Rast, Fabian M, Labruyère, Rob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0012-1622; 1469-8749
• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14471

Aim To develop a detailed priority list of family‐centred rehabilitation goals on the activity level within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) chapters d4 ‘Mobility’ and d5 ‘Self‐care’ in a paediatric population with a broad range of health conditions. Method Twenty‐two months after implementing a systematic, family‐centred, goal‐setting process, the rehabilitation goals of 212 inpatients were retrospectively allocated to the most detailed level of ICF categories by two independent researchers. The overall frequencies of these goals were calculated and stratified by health condition, functional independence, and age. Results Ninety‐three females and 119 males were included in the study (mean age 10y 9mo, SD 4y 5mo, range 2y 1mo–21y 5mo). The five most frequent rehabilitation goals were ICF codes d4500 ‘Walking short distances’ (11%), d4200 ‘Transferring oneself while sitting’ (9%), d5400 ‘Putting on clothes’ (7%), d451 ‘Going up and down stairs’ (6%), and d4153 ‘Maintaining a sitting position’ (5%). These top goals varied in the subgroups with regard to the underlying health condition, functional independence, and age. Interpretation The findings of this study are not generalizable due to the large heterogeneity in priorities. However, they can be used to incorporate families' needs into future research designs and the development of new technologies. What this paper adds Walking short distances is the most frequent mobility/self‐care goal of paediatric rehabilitation. The top goals depend on health condition, functional independence, and age. Priorities vary considerably between children undergoing rehabilitation. Rehabilitation goals need to be assessed individually for each child. What this paper adds Walking short distances is the most frequent mobility/self‐care goal of paediatric rehabilitation. The top goals depend on health condition, functional independence, and age. Priorities vary considerably between children undergoing rehabilitation. Rehabilitation goals need to be assessed individually for each child. This article is commented on by Gefen on page 410 of this issue.