Exploring the utility of the ICF-CY (international classification functioning disability and health children and youth version) framework as a clinical reasoning tool for physiotherapists who treat children with Cerebal Palsy

• Main Author: Demyati, Hanan Ahmed
• Published: University of Strathclyde 2017
• Subjects: 618.92
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.725170

Three studies were conducted to explore the utility of the WHO taxonomy of health outcomes, namely the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health, Children and Youth version (ICF-CY), as a Clinical Reasoning tool for Paediatric Physiotherapists (PPTs) treating children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Saudi Arabia. The first study was a systematic review to examine the integration of ICF knowledge into the clinical-thinking process in physiotherapy practice. All included articles utilised the ICF to identify ICF domains and apply it to the decision making process. However, only one paper examined the use of the ICF as a clinical-reasoning tool in physiotherapy practice. Contextual factors were often neglected in physiotherapist‟s decision making process. The second was a cross-sectional study that utilised a questionnaire based on psychological theory to explore the use of the ICF by PPTs in their clinical reasoning in relation to the management of children with CP. Results indicated PPTs with ICF knowledge consider environmental and personal factors in their decision-making when developing treatment plans. However, none of the cognitive constructs from the Theory of Planned Behaviour correlated with PPTs decision-making behaviour in the application of contextual factors. The third was a longitudinal Quasi-Experimental study that evaluated the impact of a two-day ICF-CY in-service training on PPTs‟ clinical reasoning and parental experience of the physiotherapy management of their child. The impact of training was significant on PPTs‟ knowledge of the ICF, performance and cognition including intention, attitude toward application and perceived control of the application of contextual factors. Parents were more satisfied with the treatment provided by ICF-trained group. However, there were no differences between the two groups of parents in their perceptions about the use of the ICF by PPTs. Findings from this dissertation inform the development of ICF-CY training as clinical reasoning tool for future studies to investigate ICF-CY implementation.