ABSTRACT
Objective To test the reliability and validity of the brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for Chinese stroke patients using Rasch model analysis. Methods The body functions of 38 Chinese stroke patients were measured using the brief ICF core sets. The qualifiers of the 20items were measured by two raters and analyzed using FACETS statistical software. The intra-rater reliability and validity were tested by using the separation index and separation reliability and fit analysis. Results The brief ICF core sets had good internal consistency and reliability (person separation index = 6.02, person separation reliability = 0.94 ) with these Chinese patients. The raters showed significantly different strictness in rating, but their ratings had good internal self-consistency. The construct validity was good for the body functions of the ICF component ( separation index = 10.50, separation reliability = 0.80) , but misfitting and overfitting were found in items b117, b152and b755. Conclusion The body function of the brief ICF core sets has good reliability and validity for Chinese stroke patients. A many-facet Rasch measurement model can provide comprehensive information and has good application prospects for testing the reliability and validity of ICF core sets.