Validation of the comprehensive international classification of functioning, disability and health core set for diabetes mellitus: physical therapists' perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: The Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an application of the ICF and represents the typical spectrum of problems in functioning in patients with diabetes. The aims of this study were to explore the content validity of this Core Set from the perspectives of physical therapists (PTs) and to identify the most common problems of patients with DM from the perspectives of PTs using the ICF.

DESIGN: In this observational study, PTs experienced in DM treatment were asked about patients' problems, patients' resources, and aspects of environment treated by PTs in their practices. The survey was conducted in three rounds using the Delphi technique. Responses were linked to the ICF by two persons. The degree of agreement was calculated using the kappa statistic.

RESULTS: Twenty-four PTs, from 11 countries, answered in the first round; 23 PTs completed the second and third Delphi rounds. The PTs reached consensus on 49 ICF categories; 73% of the ICF categories are represented in the ICF Core Set for DM, whereas 27% of the categories are not represented in the ICF Core Set for DM. Five concepts were linked to the ICF component personal factors, which is not yet classified into detailed categories.

CONCLUSIONS: The validity of the ICF Core Set for DM from the perspective of PTs was supported. From the perspective of the PTs, some additional categories qualified for future inclusion in the ICF Core Set for DM. The ICF seems to provide an effective framework describing functioning and disability in DM from the perspective of PTs.