Article

A worldwide internet survey was conducted (1) to identify problems of
individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) addressed by health professionals
and (2) to summarize these problems using the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). METHOD:
A pool of professionals
involved in the TBI rehabilitation process that included physicians, nurses,
physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists
were surveyed to identify problems in functioning and contextual factors of
individuals with TBI using open-ended questions. All answers were translated
("linked") to the ICF based on established rules. The frequencies of the linked
ICF categories were reported stratified based on context. RESULTS: One-hundred
thirty seven professionals from the six World Health Organization regions
identified 5656 concepts. 92.66% could be linked to the ICF; 33.03% were related
to the domain of body functions, 27.28% to activities and participation, 10.98%
to structures and 21.38% to environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS:
The complexity of
TBI was described through the identification of a wide variety of ICF categories.
ICF language proved to be a neutral framework allowing the comparison of answers
between different professionals in different world regions. IMPLICATIONS FOR
REHABILITATION: People that suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have a
variety of sequelae that impair functioning. The International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can help in providing information
regarding the identification of patients problems and needs as well as planning,
implementing and coordinating the rehabilitation process. The ICF provides a
frame of reference process illustrated as the rehabilitation cycle that can help
during the rehabilitation process in goal setting bringing together the
clinicians' and patient's perspectives in a patient oriented biopsychosocial
approach. In the field of TBI rehabilitation, activity limitations and
participation restrictions are broadly affected as reported by the professionals
interviewed and highly influenced by cognitive and moreover behavioral problems.

Langue : ANGLAIS