Objective: To examine the relevance and completeness of the comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for patients with rehabilitation needs in acute hospital care.
Design: Multi-centre cohort study.
Patients: A total of 391 patients (50.1% female, mean age 63.4 years) from 4 university hospitals in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and one Austrian general hospital.
Methods: Data on functioning were collected using the respective comprehensive acute ICF Core Sets. Data were extracted from patients' medical record sheets and interviews with health professionals and patients.
Results: Most of the categories of the comprehensive ICF Core Sets describing impairments, limitations or restrictions occurred in a considerable proportion of the study population. The most outstanding limitations and restrictions of the patients were problems with sleep and blood vessel functions, walking and moving and self-care. Thirty-eight aspects of functioning not previously covered by the comprehensive ICF Core Sets were ranked as relevant.
Conclusion: Categories of the comprehensive ICF Core Sets for the acute hospital situation were confirmed. Some additional categories not covered by the Set in its present version emerged from the interviews, and should be considered for inclusion in a finalized version.