Mapping information regarding the work-related disability of depression and long-term musculoskeletal pain to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and ICF Core Sets.

Introduction: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health is the WHO coding scheme for functioning-related data. Clear and unambiguous information regarding patients' work-related disabilities is important not only for the assessment of entitlement to paid sickness benefits but also for planning rehabilitation and return to work. The objective was to validate the content of ICF and ICF Core Sets for information on work-related disability in sick leave due to depression and long-term musculoskeletal pain. Specific aims: To describe to what extent (1) such data could be linked to ICF and (2) the result of the ICF linking in terms of ICF categories was represented in relevant ICF Core Sets. Methods: An ICF-linking study following the ICF-linking rules. A random sample of sick leave certificates issued in primary care for either depression (n = 25) or long-term musculoskeletal pain (n = 34) was collected from a community with 55,000 inhabitants in Stockholm County, Sweden. Results: The results of the ICF linking consisted of codings for (1) ICF categories and (2) other health information not possible to link to ICF. The ICF categories were compared to ICF Core Sets for coverage. The majority of the meaning units, 83% for depression and 75% for long-term musculoskeletal pain, were linked to ICF categories. The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for depression covered 14/16 (88%) of the ICF categories derived from the ICF linking. The corresponding figures were lower for both the Brief ICF Core Set for depression 7/16 (44%) and ICF Core Set for disability evaluation in social security 12/20 (60%). Conclusion: The results indicates that ICF is a feasible code scheme for categorising information on work-related disability in sick leave certificates for depression and long-term musculoskeletal pain. As expected, the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for depression covered the ICF categories derived from the certificates for depression to a high degree. However, the results indicate that (1) sleep- and memory functions should be added to the Brief ICF Core Set for depression, and (2) energy-, attention- and sleep functions should be added to the ICF Core Set for disability evaluation in social security when used in this context.

The perceived importance of prognostic aspects considered by physicians during work disability evaluation: a survey.

BACKGROUND: Assessing prognosis is challenging for many physicians in various medical fields. Research shows that physicians who perform disability assessments consider six areas when evaluating a prognosis: disease, treatment, course of the disease, external information, patient-related and physician-related aspects. We administered a questionnaire to evaluate how physicians rate the importance of these six prognosis areas during work disability evaluation and to explore what kind of support they would like during prognosis assessment. METHODS: Seventy-six physicians scored the importance of 23 prognostic aspects distributed over six prognosis areas. Participants scored the importance of each aspect both "in general" and from the perspective of a case vignette of a worker with a severe degenerative disease. The questionnaire also covered needs and suggestions for support during the evaluation of prognoses. RESULTS: Medical areas that are related to the disease, or the treatment or course of the disease, appeared important (scores of 7.0-9.0), with less differing opinions among participants (IQR 1.0-3.0). Corresponding verbatim remarks supported the importance of disease and treatment as prognostic aspects. In comparison, patient- and physician-related aspects scored somewhat lower, with more variability (range 4.0-8.0, with IQR 2.0-5.0 for patient- and physician-related considerations). Participants indicated a need for a tool or online database that includes prognostic aspects and prognostic evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some variation in scores, the physicians rated all six prognosis areas as important for work disability evaluations. This study provides suggested aids to prognosis assessment, including an online support tool based on evidence-based medicine features.

Pronóstico en pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular isquémico de circulación posterior / Functional outcome in posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke patients

RESUMEN INTRODUCCIÓN: El ochenta por ciento de los ataques cerebrovasculares son isquémicos, y uno de cada cinco afecta la circulación posterior. Su diagnóstico es difícil y los datos disponibles sobre el pronóstico y la mortalidad son discordantes. OBJETIVO: Evaluar el desenlace funcional a 180 días de los pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular (ACV) isquémico de circulación posterior (CP). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Seguimiento prospectivo a pacientes con ACV de CP que ingresaron al Instituto Neurológico de Colombia entre septiembre del 2017 y septiembre del 2018. El desenlace clínico fue determinado mediante la escala Rankin modificada (mRS) al mes, a los seis meses y al año. RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 68 pacientes. La edad promedio fue 61 ±17 años y 60,3 % fueron hombres. El 85% tenía un mRS previo al ACV ≤ 1 y el 63 % un NIHSS basal ≤ 4. Nueve pacientes (13,2 %) recibieron terapia de reperfusión aguda (rtPA, TEV o ambas) y siete (10,3 %) adicionales arteriografía diferida. Dieciséis pacientes (23,5 %) presentaron una mejoría del NIHSS basal ≥ 4 puntos. Cuarenta y seis pacientes (74,2 %) presentaron un desenlace excelente mRS 0-1 a los seis meses y 87,1 % fueron categorizados mRS favorable (mRS 0-2). En el análisis ajustado, el NIHSS ≥ 4 fue un predictor de desenlace desfavorable a seis meses (RR 6,4; IC95 % 2,9-14,2). Seis pacientes (9,0 %) fallecieron, cuatro relacionados con el episodio actual o su recurencia. CONCLUSIONES: La mayoría de los pacientes con ACV de CP tienen desdenlaces favorables y una baja mor%talidad. La escala de NIHSS basal es un factor pronóstico independiente.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Ischemic strokes account for 80 % of all strokes, and one of every five compromises the posterior circulation. The diagnosis is difficult, and the data available about the outcome and mortality are discordant in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicai outcome of patients at 180 days after posterior circulation ischemic stroke METHODS: Patients with diagnosis of posterior circulation stroke admitted to Instituto Neurológico de Colombia between September 2017 to 2018 were prospective included. The functional outcome by modified Rankin scale score (mRS) was determined at 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month after disease onset. RESULTS: 68 patients were included. The median age was 61 years ± 17 and 60.3 % were male. 85 % had a baseline mRS ≤ 1, and 63 % had a baseline National Institute Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤ 4. Nine patients were taken to acute recanalization therapies (rtPA, endovascular therapy or both) and seven more delayed arteriography. Sixteen patients (23.5 %) demonstrated an improvement of four or more points over the baseline NIHSS. Forty-six patients (74.2 %) had an excellent outcome 0-1 at six months and 87,1 % were categorized favorable mRS (mRS 0-2). In the adjusted analysis an NIHSS > 4 was a predictor of an unfavorable outcome at 6-month (RR 6.4; IC95 % 2.9-14.2). Six patients died (9 %); four of them in relation to the current event or an ischemic stroke recurrence. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients with posterior ischemic stroke have favorable outcomes and a low mortality. The baseline NIHSS is an independent prognostic risk factor.

Adherencia a procesos de neurorrehabilitación funcional y su relación con la discapacidad y la calidad de vida en adultos colombianos con lesión medular / Adherence to functional neurorehabilitation processes and their relation to disability and quality of life in Colombian adults with spinal cord injury

Resumen Introducción. El conocimiento de la adherencia terapéutica en condiciones crónicas de salud como la lesión medular y su relación con la discapacidad y la calidad de vida puede reflejar mejores resultados en procesos de rehabilitación. Objetivo. Establecer el nivel de adherencia a procesos de neurorrehabilitación funcional y su relación con la discapacidad y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en adultos colombianos con lesión medular. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo correlacional con 330 participantes en el que se aplicaron diferentes instrumentos de medición: SMAN para adherencia a procesos de neurorrehabilitación funcional, SCI-DAS para discapacidad en lesiones medulares y WHOQOL-BREF para CVRS. Resultados. En el 80% la discapacidad global fue leve y moderada. 66% de los participantes reportaron niveles medio y alto de adherencia. El promedio de calidad de vida general fue de 68/100. Se encontró correlación significativa, por un lado, entre el componente ambiental de la discapacidad con la adherencia global y sus factores socio-económico, equipo de asistencia sanitaria, tratamiento y paciente y, por el otro, entre el dominio ambiental de la CVRS con la adherencia global y todos sus factores (p<0.001). Conclusión. Los principales determinantes de la adherencia a procesos de neurorrehabilitación funcional son los componentes ambientales de la discapacidad y la CVRS.

Abstract Introduction: Knowledge on adherence to treatment in chronic health conditions, such as spinal cord injury, and their relation with disability and quality of life may reflect better results in rehabilitation processes. Objective: To establish the level of adherence to functional neurorehabilitation processes and its relation to disability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Colombian adults with spinal cord injury. Materials and methods: Descriptive correlational study with 330 participants in which different measuring instruments were applied: SMAN for adherence to functional neurorehabilitation processes, SCI-DAS for disability in spinal cord injuries, and WHOQOL-BREF for HRQOL. Results: In 80% of cases, overall disability was mild to moderate. 66% of participants reported medium and high adhesion levels. The average overall quality of life was 68/100. On the one hand, significant correlation between the environmental component of disability regarding adherence and the socio-economic, health care team, treatment and patient factors were found, and on the other, between the environmental domain of HRQOL and the overall adherence and all its factors (p<0.001). Conclusion: The main determinants of adherence to functional neurorehabilitation processes are environmental components of disability and HRQOL.

Use of a structured functional evaluation process for independent medical evaluations of claimants presenting with disabling mental illness: rationale and design for a multi-center reliability study.

BACKGROUND: Work capacity evaluations by independent medical experts are widely used to inform insurers whether injured or ill workers are capable of engaging in competitive employment. In many countries, evaluation processes lack a clearly structured approach, standardized instruments, and an explicit focus on claimants' functional abilities. Evaluation of subjective complaints, such as mental illness, present additional challenges in the determination of work capacity. We have therefore developed a process for functional evaluation of claimants with mental disorders which complements usual psychiatric evaluation. Here we report the design of a study to measure the reliability of our approach in determining work capacity among patients with mental illness applying for disability benefits. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct a multi-center reliability study, in which 20 psychiatrists trained in our functional evaluation process will assess 30 claimants presenting with mental illness for eligibility to receive disability benefits [Reliability of Functional Evaluation in Psychiatry, RELY-study]. The functional evaluation process entails a five-step structured interview and a reporting instrument (Instrument of Functional Assessment in Psychiatry [IFAP]) to document the severity of work-related functional limitations. We will videotape all evaluations which will be viewed by three psychiatrists who will independently rate claimants' functional limitations. Our primary outcome measure is the evaluation of claimant's work capacity as a percentage (0 to 100 %), and our secondary outcomes are the 12 mental functions and 13 functional capacities assessed by the IFAP-instrument. Inter-rater reliability of four psychiatric experts will be explored using multilevel models to estimate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Additional analyses include subgroups according to mental disorder, the typicality of claimants, and claimant perceived fairness of the assessment process. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that a structured functional approach will show moderate reliability (ICC ≥ 0.6) of psychiatric evaluation of work capacity. Enrollment of actual claimants with mental disorders referred for evaluation by disability/accident insurers will increase the external validity of our findings. Finding moderate levels of reliability, we will continue with a randomized trial to test the reliability of a structured functional approach versus evaluation-as-usual.

Which Environmental Factors Have the Highest Impact on the Performance of People Experiencing Difficulties in Capacity?

Disability is understood by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the outcome of the interaction between a health condition and personal and environmental factors. Comprehensive data about environmental factors is therefore essential to understand and influence disability. We aimed to identify which environmental factors have the highest impact on the performance of people with mild, moderate and severe difficulties in capacity, who are at risk of experiencing disability to different extents, using data from a pilot study of the WHO Model Disability Survey in Cambodia and random forest regression. Hindering or facilitating aspects of places to socialize in community activities, transportation and natural environment as well as use and need of personal assistance and use of medication on a regular basis were the most important environmental factors across groups. Hindering or facilitating aspects of the general environment were the most relevant in persons experiencing mild levels of difficulties in capacity, while social support, attitudes of others and use of medication on a regular basis were highly relevant for the performance of persons experiencing moderate to higher levels of difficulties in capacity. Additionally, we corroborate the high importance of the use and need of assistive devices for people with severe difficulties in capacity.