Using ICF to Describe Problems With Functioning in Everyday Life for Children Who Completed Treatment for Brain Tumor: An Analysis Based on Professionals' Documentation

Feasibility of Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) as a Framework for Aquatic Activities: A Scoping Review

(1) Background: In recent years, reviewing studies of aquatic activities for children with developmental delays has been a complex task due to the multitude of indices and professional languages. (2) Aim: To determine if the ICF-CY framework can be used as the unifying language in AA studies of children with DD. (3) Methods: Part One-A systematic review of selected studies focusing on goals that were found to be positive. These goals were linked to the ICF-CY categories. Part Two-Review of all studies using the ICF-CY's functioning components. (4) Results: Most of the positive goals were properly linked to ICF-CY and made it possible to review the 71 articles in a uniform language. (5) Conclusions: It is feasible to use the ICF framework as a universal structure and language.

Individual patterns of problems with participation, activity, body function and environment in everyday life for children who completed brain tumor treatment

PURPOSE

The study purpose was to, with the help of ICF and the CPS model, describe and explain patterns of co-occurring problems with participation in everyday life activities, body functioning and environment for children who completed brain tumor treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hospital, habilitation and school records for nine children (5-11 yrs.) diagnosed with brain tumor, were retrospectively reviewed for everyday problems after treatment completion. These problems were linked to ICF codes. Median code distribution within ICF constructs participation, body function, body structure, activity, and environment were calculated to generate typical (close to median) and atypical (distant from median) patterns of problems on individual and group levels. Two children were in-depth analyzed with collaborative problem-solving (CPS) model to identify participation problems and plausible explanations.

RESULTS

In total, 4543 ICF linked codes revealed similarities and differences between individuals. The selected child-cases displayed educational challenges and peer-relational problems. The ICF codes related to activity, body function and environment revealed plausible explanations for the children's documented problems with participation in everyday life.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of ICF and CPS can provide a comprehensive view of the child's problems and guide development of participation in everyday life-focused interventions for children treated for brain tumors.Implications for rehabilitationCare should be guided by interventions and support directed at individual children and their everyday life.The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework can support identification of the individual child's patterns of problems and how these affects the child's everyday life.It is recommended to start by identifying participation problems when using ICF to identify and describe problems in children's natural settings.The collaborative problem-solving model can guide healthcare, habilitation and school services when identifying and acting on typical and atypical problem patterns experienced by these children.

Everyday life during the childhood cancer trajectory-childhood cancer survivors' descriptions of the role of caring support

Background

Being diagnosed with cancer in childhood often has a direct impact on the child's opportunities to participate in activities and the child's sense of belonging in different life situations. Experiences of illness in youth affect the lives of these individuals in numerous ways and they need pronounced support to regain their normal life after treatment.

Purpose

To illustrate how childhood cancer survivors describe the role of the caring support provided by healthcare professionals at diagnosis and during the cancer trajectory.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was applied. Swanson's Theory of Caring was used to deductively analyze the answers in a study-specific questionnaire with Likert scales (1-5). Descriptive and comparative statistics and exploratory factor analyses were performed.

Results

Sixty-two former patients, diagnosed with solid tumors/lymphoma in 1983 to 2003 in Sweden, participated. The mean time passed since treatment was 15.7 years. Swanson's caring processes Being with and Doing for were the most prominent loading categorical factor indicators. Higher scores for healthcare professionals being emotionally present (Being with), doing for others what they would do for themselves (Doing for) and being willing to understand the sick child's situation (Knowing) were highlighted by survivors older than 30 years, compared to those younger than 30 years (p = 0.041, p = 0.045, and p = 0.013, respectively). An increased vulnerability regarding their ability to cope with difficulties (Maintain belief) was found among participants who were treated during adolescence, related to schoolchildren (p = 0.048), and among those who had been treated with extra-cranial irradiation in comparison with no extra-cranial irradiation (p = 0.004). The role of having a partner in comparison with being single was underlined among those who felt they had acquired the tools they needed to take care of themselves (Enabling) (p = 0.013). The total explained variance was 63%.

Conclusions

A person-centered care approach during treatment for childhood cancer, reflected by a caring model, highlights the role of healthcare professionals being emotionally present, involving children, performing actions, and with an approach that has potential long-term implications. Childhood cancer patients and survivors need not only clinically competent professionals, but professionals who provide caring interactions with compassion.

Neuropsychological monitoring of cognitive function and ICF–based mental components in patients with malignant brain tumours

Background

Cognitive deficits are one of the important clinical features of patients with brain tumours, which can affect up to 30–90% of patients before treatment. The consequence is a significant and rapid degradation of the patient’s intellectual functioning, seizures, paralysis and other symptoms that prevent independent functioning. This results in a reduced quality of life and a psychological crisis not only for the patient but also for their relatives. Maintaining the patient’s function at the highest level for as long as possible is particularly important, given that long-term remission or a cure is unlikely or accompanied by significant disability.

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a narrative review to the neuropsychological procedure for monitoring cognitive function in patients with brain tumours, which may be helpful in developing adequate clinical practice and appropriate management procedures.

Methods

A narrative review was applied to search broadly across disciplines, retrieving literature from several databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost).

Results

(1) discussing the methodological aspects of neuropsychological tools for monitoring cognitive function in brain tumour patients, (2) identifying the most commonly used tools and (3) their practical applicability according to the cognitive function components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Conclusion

This article points to the need to systematise research tools or develop new ones, adapted to diagnostic needs with high psychometric characteristics, with particular attention to memory processes and learning effect. Rehabilitation of patients is also an important issue, which requires the use of adequate tools to assess functional disability. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) seems to be useful in this respect. The ICF has the advantage of targeting actions to improve the condition of the individual and to keep them as long as possible in a state of well-being that allows them to function effectively in society or to return to work. This is particularly important in view of the ageing population and the increasing number of diagnoses related to brain tumours.

Assessment of Participation in Pediatric Neuropsychology

Abstract: Pediatric patients with chronic health conditions often suffer from social and academic exclusion. Since disease-centered assessments do not allow for differentiated biopsychosocial profiling, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric quality of “The School Participation Scales 24/7,” a novel ICF-CY-based assessment tool. Results show high fit indices for most subscales, signifying structural equality between the tool and the ICF-CY. Acceptable criterion validity is given for established neuropsychological tests. Internal consistency and retest analyses revealed that most subscales reliably and stably measure the intended domains. Finally, the tool was standardized using a representative healthy sample. In summary, the S-PS 24/7 represents a useful tool for measuring school participation in pediatric patients, thereby building a profound basis for effective interventions.

Capturing Meaningful Outcomes in -Pediatric Neurology: Further Reflections on Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities

Patient and public involvement in health care is considered indispensable in the way we conduct daily pediatric neurology practice, and in the development and utilization of health outcome measurements. This essay examines what meaningful quality evaluations and measurements are, describes the development of approaches to measuring health and outcomes, explores the potential applications of patient-reported outcome measures in pediatric neurology, and identifies opportunities and challenges in using patient-reported outcome measurements in our daily clinical practice. Recent developments have transformed our attitude on how to help children with neurological and developmental conditions and their families: specifically, (1) the recognition of the fundamental rights of children with disabilities; (2) the application of the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health by the World Health Organization that views health from the perspective of both biopsychosocial strengths and functional abilities; (3) the application of qualitative research methodologies to children with neurological conditions and their caregivers to elucidate what they consider essential for their own good health and well-being; and (4) the development of core outcome measurements sets for children and adults with various neurological and developmental conditions. In summary, supporting patients in their role as full partners in clinical care and research enables them to contribute their experiential knowledge and helps ensure that results are relevant and address patient needs, preferences, and priorities. Recognizing the importance of involving young people in their health management decisions has become central in contemporary medicine and needs to be part of the curriculum of all health care professionals.