Examining Care Partner Problems Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Patient and Caregiver Support

Background:

• Care partners report feeling unprepared for managing patient care during predischarge rehabilitation and hospital-to-home transitions.
• This lack of preparedness impacts both the care partner and the patient's recovery process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify and describe care partner-reported problems using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
• To explore the experiences of care partners during the predischarge rehabilitation process.

Main Methods:

• A standardized linking technique was used to map meaningful concepts from problem-solving training with care partners to the ICF.
• Data were collected within a healthcare institution setting.

Main Results:

• Care partner problems were linked to 13 ICF chapters, with activities and participation (e.g., self-care, domestic life, major life areas) and body functions (e.g., emotional, sleep) being most frequently reported.
• Commonly reported issues included challenges with emotional function, major life areas, self-care, domestic life, interpersonal relationships, and sleep.

Conclusions:

• The ICF provides a robust framework for examining and detailing care partners' health-related experiences.
• Care partners face diverse and interconnected challenges concerning activities, participation, body functions, and environmental factors before hospital discharge.
• The ICF facilitates a systematic approach to identifying and addressing the complex needs of care partners in rehabilitation settings.