Linking the DISABKIDS modules for health-related quality of life assessment with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between all established DISABKIDS modules and the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF). The DISABKIDS questionnaires were developed as a tool set of both condition-generic and condition-specific modules for assessing the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with medical conditions.

Methods. All DISABKIDS modules were linked to the ICF by two trained health experts using a set of previously published linking rules.

Results. We have identified 210 meaningful concepts from a total of 144 items included in all questionnaires. Concepts represented by the items in the nine different questionnaires of the DISABKIDS measurement tool set were linked to 49 different categories of the ICF: 18 categories of the component ‘Body Functions’, 21 categories of the component ‘Activities and Participation’ and 10 categories of the component ‘Environmental Factors’.

Conclusions. This article strongly emphasises the usefulness of the ICF as a framework and provides interesting insights into differences and similarities between the generic and the condition-specific DISABKIDS modules.

Keywords:

• Health-related quality of life
• ICF
• children
• adolescents
• condition-generic instrument
• condition-specific instrument
• disability