Laying the foundation for a primary care core set of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for community-dwelling older adults: A qualitative study.
Johanna Tomandl, Stephanie Book, Anina Hoefle and 6 others
PMID 33319915WHAT IT FOUND
Community-dwelling older adults prioritized leisure, family relationships, and mobility over physical impairments.
They viewed coping and environmental support as central to independence. These patient-focused themes may differ from deficit-oriented clinical assessments.
Key findings
01Recreation and leisure, changing body position, and immediate family were the most frequently cited ICF categories across all interviews.
02Participants rarely mentioned anatomical changes, focusing instead on the consequences of impairments for daily life activities.
03Coping strategies and attitudes towards aging were significant themes that could not be fully captured by standard ICF categories.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (27 participants) and recruited via convenience sampling. Participants were relatively high-functioning, living independently with no or low care grades, so findings may not apply to those with significant disabilities. The study was conducted in Germany with good healthcare access, limiting generalizability to other regions or healthcare systems. The use of photographs to guide interviews may have biased responses toward visible activities rather than internal states or impairments.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to patients with severe functional limitations or those in institutional care. The participants were relatively independent and high-functioning, so their priorities may differ significantly from more impaired older adults.