Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to expand and standardize the assessment of quality-of-life following a stroke: proposal for the use of codes and qualifiers

Purpose Propose a way of coding and qualifying HRQoL following a stroke using the codes and qualifiers of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 51 individuals with hemiparesis resulting from a stroke. ICF codes related to the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) scale were listed and subsequently classified using the generic ICF qualifiers, which range from .0 - no impairment to .4 - complete impairment. A simple mathematic calculation was proposed to convert the SS-QOL scores into ICF qualifiers. Results The use of the ICF qualifiers revealed that the individuals exhibited a moderate level (.2) of quality of life, with mild impairment (.1) regarding upper limb function, language, self-care, and vision as well as severe impairment (.3) regarding social relations. Conclusions The proposal presented in this study allowed qualifying 43 ICF codes related to quality of life after a stroke in a simple, standardized manner, enabling the identification of different levels of impairment on each of the domains of the SS-QOL scale. This coding standardizes the evaluation, facilitates communication between healthcare providers, and systematizes the collection of data and information on health.

Automated summary

The study proposed a method of coding and qualifying HRQoL following a stroke using ICF codes and qualifiers, identifying different levels of impairment in various domains. The results showed a moderate level of quality of life with different degrees of impairment in specific areas for individuals with hemiparesis resulting from a stroke. This method standardizes evaluation, enhances communication between healthcare providers, and systematizes data collection on health.