Using core sets of the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) to measure disability in vestibular disorders: Study protocol

Issue title: Barany Society June 10, 2012 Symposium on Measures for Level of Functioning and Quality of Life in People with Vestibular Disorders – Uppsala, Sweden

Guest editors: Helen Cohen

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Grill, Eva^{a; b; *} | Furman, Joseph M.^c | Alghwiri, Alia A.^d | Müller, Martin^{a; b} | Whitney, Susan L.^e

Affiliations: [a] Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany | [b] German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany | [c] Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan | [e] Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. Eva Grill, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 17, D-81377 München, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 2180 78223; Fax: +49 89 2180 78230; E-mail: eva.grill@med.uni-muenchen.de

Abstract: Symptom frequency and severity in vestibular disorders often do not correlate well with patients' restrictions of activities of daily living and limitations of participation. Due to the lack of appropriate patient reported outcome measures (PRO), the extent of limitations and restrictions is mostly unknown. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a conceptual framework and classification to evaluate all aspects of health and disability. An ICF-based measure, the Vestibular and Participation Measure (VAP), was recently proposed. Also, an ICF Core Set for vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders was developed to describe what aspects of functioning should be measured. This study protocol describes the development and cross-cultural validation of a new measure, the VAP-extended (VAP-e), based on VAP and ICF Core Set on three continents. To determine objectivity and cross-cultural validity of the VAP and to find potentially redundant items, Rasch models will be used. The VAP-e will be created by modifying or adding items from the Activities and Participation and Environmental Factors component of the ICF Core Set. Reliability, objectivity and responsiveness of the VAP-e will be tested.

Keywords: Vertigo, dizziness, quality of life, activities of daily living, social participation, ICF

DOI: 10.3233/VES-130487

Journal: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 297-303, 2013