Advancing driving rehabilitation in Korea: the development of a tailored ICF Core Set

This study aimed to develop a tailored International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for driving rehabilitation in South Korea, addressing the functional needs of individuals with disabilities and the gaps in the current rehabilitation system.

An initial item pool was created based on focus group interviews with 13 individuals with disabilities who use assistive driving technologies. This was followed by two Delphi rounds with 12 occupational therapy experts. Items were rated for relevance using Lawshe's content validity ratio (CVR), with a threshold of 0.54. Additional items were proposed during the process and reviewed in the second round.

The final Core Set included 55 ICF categories: 17 body functions, 21 activities and participation items, and 17 environmental factors. These categories reflect key cognitive, sensory, and physical demands of driving, as well as social and environmental conditions that influence driving performance.

The developed ICF Core Set provides a function-based framework for driving rehabilitation that is applicable to the Korean context. It offers a foundation for assessment, service design, and policy development. Future research should examine its clinical utility and cross-disciplinary applicability.