Perspectives on functional assessment: its use for policy making

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Functional assessment tools significantly influence healthcare access and resource allocation.
• Current functional assessment tools are often criticized as flawed or still in development, raising concerns about their policy-making readiness.
• This creates a conflict between consumers, providers, researchers, and policymakers regarding healthcare decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present diverse stakeholder perspectives on the readiness of functional assessment tools for informing healthcare policy.
• To analyze the current state of functional assessment in the context of US healthcare trends and the WHO's International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH).
• To identify pathways for enhancing confidence in the utility of these tools for policy development.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach synthesizing views from key constituencies (consumers, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, payers).
• Contextual analysis within US healthcare trends and the ICIDH framework.
• Review of characteristics of widely used functional assessment tools.

Main Results:

• Significant concerns exist regarding the developmental stage and validity of current functional assessment tools for policy implementation.
• Stakeholder perspectives highlight a gap between the perceived need for these tools and their current capabilities.
• The ICIDH framework provides a context, but tool application for policy remains debated.

Conclusions:

• Policy decisions based on current functional assessment tools may be premature, necessitating caution.
• Further development and validation are required to build confidence in these instruments for robust healthcare policy.
• Addressing stakeholder concerns is crucial for the effective and equitable use of functional assessments in healthcare policy.