Lessons learned from different approaches towards classifying personal factors

Abstract

Purpose: To examine and compare existing suggestions towards a classification of Personal Factors (PF) of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: Qualitative and quantitative content analyses of available categorizations of PF are conducted. Results: While the eight categorizations greatly differ in their background and structure, the broad content areas covered seem to be similar and reflect the ICF definition of PF. They cover to various degrees 12 broad content areas: socio-demographic factors, behavioral and lifestyle factors, cognitive psychological factors, social relationships, experiences and biography, coping, emotional factors, satisfaction, other health conditions, biological/physiological factors, personality, motives/motivation. Conclusions: In comparing these categorizations, a common core of content issues for a potential ICF PF classification could be identified and valuable lessons learned. This can contribute to future classification development activities in relation to PF.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Personal Factors (PF) are part of the bio-psych-social framework of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

• Eight existing suggestions towards a classification of the ICF’s PF are identified, described and compared: they differ in their background and structure, but also cover a common core of similar topic domains.

• Findings from this study can contribute to future PF classification development activities.

• Controlled vocabulary
• International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health
• psychological factors

Acknowledgements

We are much indebted to Prof. Dr. Alarcos Cieza, who provided us with her valuable advice in drafting the article.

Declaration of interest

This study has been funded by the Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), Nottwil, Switzerland. The authors report no declarations of interest.