Article

PURPOSE: To identify the assessment instruments and relevant outcome measures
used in randomised clinical trials (RCTs) relating to interventions for adults
with communication disorders, and then examine and compare the domains of the
outcome measures using the International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference tool.
METHOD: Published RCTs with
primary focus on the effectiveness of rehabilitation for adults with
communication disorders were systematically reviewed. Identified RCTs were
examined for all the assessments used as outcome measures. Distinctions were made
between the use of standardised assessment tools and non-standardised empirical
measures. The key concepts examined by the outcome measures were then linked to
the ICF using the established ICF linking rules. RESULTS: The systematic review
included 24 RCTs in which 11 trials used non-standardised empirical assessment as
the outcome measure, and 18 trials included standardised instruments as the
outcome measure. It is clear that all the identified items and meaningful
concepts from the assessment used in the included studies can be linked to the
ICF categories. Of the 108 linked level-two ICF categories, 53% were linked to
'body functions', 36% to 'activity and participation' and 9% to 'environmental
factors'. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of outcome measures have been used in RCTs of
interventions for adults with communications disorders.
The ICF provides a
clarifying framework for systematically gathering and examining the information
about the content of outcome measures and then can be used as a common reference
to identify and compare the domains of the outcome measures. The high proportion
of elements relating to body functions raises some questions about the purpose
and aims of the interventions.

Langue : ANGLAIS