Dados do Trabalho

Título

ICF ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO DESCRIBE THE WORK FUNCTIONING OF PERSONS WITH EPILEPSY

Introdução

Epilepsy is frequently associated with many limitations in activities of daily living and restrictions on participation. Even now, work is among the most impacted life areas of persons with epilepsy (PWE). Despite the impact of epilepsy on life, social and health professionals face challenges to assess the work functioning of PWE. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and
Health (ICF) is the framework developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand and describe health and disability. To date there is no instrument focused on work functioning and no ICF Core Sets (ICF-CSs) – a selection of which functioning domains are the most relevant for specific health conditions or situations - for epilepsy, so the guidance of which functioning aspects should be covered in an assessment for PWE and focus on workability is lacking.

Objetivo

Defining which ICF categories are essential to describe the work functioning of PWE.

Método

We followed an adapted version of the recommendations of Selb e col. (2015) as a guide to generating this ICF category selection. First, we performed a literature review and then applied the ICF linking rules to the findings of this review. Lastly, a team of 10 neurologists evaluated the pertinency of this ICF category selection.

Resultados

As result, we got a total of 47 ICF categories to describe the work functioning of PWE: Twelve of these are related to the body functions ICF component, which eight correspond to mental functions and four to other body functions; twenty-three categories are related to activities and participation domain; and eleven are related to environmental factors. To exemplify, using the ICD and ICF codes, we can describe and classify a person with epilepsy (ICD-10: G40), focal onset seizures (ICF: s110), impaired awareness (ICF: b110), memory problems (ICF: b114), difficulties in carrying out the daily routine (ICF: d230), moving around (ICF: d460) and receiving support from family (ICF: e310).

Conclusão

The ICF categories selection turns the ICF into an easy-to-use tool in clinical practice. It can be a useful tool for professionals who provide health care for PWE as it offers a broader view, going beyond biomedical problems. It might be helpful to identify the difficulties that PWE face concerning acquiring and keeping a job and conduct multidisciplinary intervention since it was developed in accordance with the biopsychosocial model.

Palavras-chave

Epilepsy; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; Employment.