Consistency evaluation of nursing interns and nurses using the ICF-RS for rehabilitation assessment

This study sought to evaluate the consistency of functional level assessments conducted by nursing interns and an experienced nurse in elderly patients, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Rehabilitation Set (ICF-RS).

Forty-one elderly residents from a care facility in Guangzhou were included in this study. Functional evaluations were performed using the ICF-RS by six nursing interns and one experienced nurse. The consistency of assessments between the nursing interns, as well as between the interns and the experienced nurse, was measured using Kendall and Kappa coefficients.

Consistency among the nursing interns was good, with Kendall coefficients greater than 0.6 for most categories, except for sexual function. However, the consistency between the nursing interns and the experienced nurse was lower in categories such as energy and drive functions (b130), sleep functions (b134), emotional functions (b152), pain sensation (b280), sexual functions (b640), and urination functions (b620), where Kappa coefficients were below 0.3. For other categories, consistency was deemed acceptable (Kappa > 0.3).

There is a need to enhance the training of nursing interns to ensure they can effectively utilize the ICF-RS assessment tool.

Not applicable.