Developing an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors in Chinese Clinical Settings

Background The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set (CS) facilitates the standardization of functioning and impairment assessment for integration of holistic care. Objective This study developed an ICF CS for interviewing pediatric brain tumor survivors in Taiwan to help healthcare professionals in implementing disability assessment and management measures. Methods A group of 29 experts in 10 relevant fields with at least 5 years of experience working with children with brain tumors participated in this study. The first questionnaire contained 247 second-level ICF categories. The experts rated the significance of each category by using a 5-point Likert scale. Correlations between individual and group scores were calculated to determine consensus. Categories with an average rating of higher than 4 and for which greater than or equal to 80% (23) of the participants provided a rating of 4 or higher were included in the final CS. Results The final CS contained a total of 57 ICF categories: 20 from the Body Functions and Structures component, 36 from the Activities and Participation component, and 1 from the Environmental Factors component. Conclusion The ICF CS for pediatric brain tumor survivors provides a framework for relevant healthcare professionals to deliver patient-centered care, ensuring that services focus on all areas of development. Implications for Practice Patient ratings for this ICF CS may serve as a new practical and effective patient-reported information tool for acquiring patient input and for the systematic monitoring of pediatric brain tumor survivors in clinical practice. Further research should be conducted on this CS to verify our findings.