Research Paradigm of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with Item Response Theory: Clarification, Classification, and Challenge

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this literature review was to clarify the sufficiency and efficiency needs, as well as the stratification and the assignment scoring principles of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set, in conjunction with the Item Response Theory (IRT)-derived functioning outcome measures.MethodsA literature search has been done on the PubMed database. We included studies involving the IRT-derived ICF evaluation tool. Our main outcome was the assignment and stratification scoring principle of IRT-derived ICF-based functioning outcome measures.Results46 relative articles met the eligibility criteria of our review. On this basis, this review was undertaken to track the research progress of the ICF-based and IRT-modeling measurement tools and screen the final core set. This review included a classification of IRT modeling for ICF studies and a summary of existing research paradigms of IRT-derived ICF outcome measures. Moreover, this review identified blind spots related to scoring assignment principles and “difficulty parameter” in current ICF-based IRT studies.ConclusionThe ICF is the worldwide terminology system for functioning categories, while ICF-based evaluation in clinical practice and scientific research has elicited the underlying challenges. However, the algorithm of the ICF-based IRT modeling may advance the understanding of ICF clinical application and enable a new paradigm for the design of IRT-derived ICF questionnaires, namely the parsimonious core set of ICF. Additionally, the Wright map has the potential to facilitate an understanding of the rehabilitation process and tailor rehabilitation goals.