Pearl Chung, Fary Khan, Rodney Judson
Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia: E-mail: pearl.chung@sydney.edu.au
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2860

Objective: To examine the validity of the Comprehensive and Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for Traumatic Brain Injury for patients with traumatic brain injury living in the community in Australia.
Design: Qualitative methodology using focus groups and individual interviews.
Patients: Community-dwelling adult persons with traumatic brain injury.
Methods: Patients sustaining traumatic brain injury with post-traumatic amnesia between September 2009 and August 2013, selected from the Royal Melbourne Hospital Trauma Registry, were invited to participate in the study. Participants were asked structured questions based on the ICF framework. Digital recordings of the discussions were transcribed in full for linking to the ICF categories.
Results: Saturation of data was reached after 5 groups involving 21 participants. Participants identified as relevant 77. 7% (n = 108/139) and 100% (n = 23/23) of the Comprehensive and Brief ICF Core Sets for traumatic brain injury, respectively. Additional ICF categories identified in 2 or more groups were: b180 “experience of self and time functions”; b250 “taste function”; b265 “touch function”; b530 “weight maintenance function”; b780 “sensation related to muscles and movement”; and d650 “caring for household objects”.
Conclusion: The study found additional ICF categories to consider and supports the use of the ICF Core Sets for traumatic brain injury in Australian adults in the community.

Patients with traumatic brain injuries were invited to discuss the problems and barriers they faced after their injuries. Participants were living at home in Victoria, Australia, and provided their responses to the researchers for the “patient perspective”. The discussions were compared with the comprehensive and abbreviated lists of issues (known as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for Traumatic Brain Injury). These lists are intended to represent the lived experience of brain injury survivors. Overall, the current lists were found to be adequate for use in similar patient populations. Additional items to consider for the comprehensive list were also identified as potentially relevant. These included sensory or perception problems and difficulties with completing domestic tasks.