ICF Core Sets for osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To report on the results of the consensus process integrating evidence from preliminary studies to develop the first version of a Comprehensive ICF Core Set and a Brief ICF Core Set for osteoarthritis. METHODS: A formal decision-making and consensus process integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies was followed. Preliminary studies included a Delphi exercise, a systematic review, and an empirical data collection. After training in the ICF and based on these preliminary studies relevant ICF categories were identified in a formal consensus process by international experts from different backgrounds. RESULTS: The preliminary studies identified a set of 388 ICF categories at the second, third, and fourth ICF levels with 144 categories on body functions, 49 on body structures; 165 on activities and participation, and 43 on environmental factors. Seventeen experts from 7 different countries attended the consensus conference on osteoarthritis. Altogether 55 second-level categories were included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set with 13 categories from the component body functions, 6 from body structures, 19 from activities and participation, and 17 from environmental factors. The Brief ICF Core Set included a total of 13 second-level categories (3 on body functions, 3 on body structures, 3 on activities and participation, and 4 on environmental factors). CONCLUSION: A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for osteoarthritis. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were defined.