Identification of the most common problems in functioning of individuals with spinal cord injury using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

• Published in: Spinal cord 2010-03, Vol.48 (3), p.221-229
• Main Authors: Kirchberger, I, Biering-Sørensen, F, Charlifue, S, Baumberger, M, Campbell, R, Kovindha, A, Ring, H, Sinnott, A, Scheuringer, M, Stucki, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anatomy; Asia, Southeastern; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Disability Evaluation; Female; Health Status; Human Physiology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; original-article; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Recovery of Function - physiology; Social Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Spinal Cord Injuries - classification; Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2009.116

Study design: Cross-sectional, multicenter study. Objectives: To identify the most common problems of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the early post-acute and the long-term context, respectively, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a frame of reference. Setting: International. Methods: The functional problems of individuals with SCI were recorded using the 264 ICF categories on the second level of the classification. Prevalence of impairment was reported along with their 95% confidence intervals. Data were stratified by context. Results: Sixteen study centers in 14 countries collected data of 489 individuals with SCI in the early post-acute context and 559 in the long-term context, respectively. Impairments in thirteen ICF categories assigned to Body functions and Body structures were more frequently reported in the long-term context, whereas limitations/restrictions in 34 ICF categories assigned to Activities and Participation were more frequently found in the early post-acute context. Eleven ICF categories from the component Environmental Factors were more frequently regarded as barriers, facilitators or both by individuals with SCI in the early post-acute context as compared with individuals with SCI in the long-term context. Only two environmental factors were more relevant for people with SCI in the long-term context than in the early post-acute context. Conclusion: The study identified a large variety of functional problems reflecting the complexity of SCI and indicated differences between the two contexts. The ICF has potential to provide a comprehensive framework for the description of functional health in individuals with SCI worldwide.