Implementation of an ICF-based project/program in a pediatric neuro-rehabiltation hospital: follow-up evaluation by stakeholders.

Purpose: We follow-up on the experience started 3 years ago with the introduction in a pediatric neurorehabilitation hospital of an ICF-CY based form for rehabilitation projecting/programming, by probing the impact that this process had on stakeholders to establish its long term cost/benefit ratio. Methods: Two hundred and two rehabilitation projects/programs forms for children with various health conditions admitted for intensive rehabilitation were completed in 36 months. Assessment was carried out by (i) evaluating the compliance with the new process design, (ii) assessing the resource consumption and (iii) appraising the perceived change in terms of added quality. A structured questionnaire built by clustering statements about added quality determinants in rehabilitation expressed by team members and families, explored the perceived change in the rehabilitation process associated with the introduced form with a 0-5 Likert-type scaling. Results: (i) Most projects/programs forms were filled appropriately, allowing the link of functional problems, objectives, rehabilitation activities, and outcome indicators. (ii) No additional resources were needed to implement the process. (iii) Questionnaire scores were 3.25 SD 0.2 for team members and 4.05 SD 0.2 for families, showing moderate to relevant appreciation in particular by families. Conclusions: The results confirmed the feasibility of ICF implementation in the clinical setting. ICF based project/program was appreciated by both team members and caregivers as adding quality to the rehabilitation process. These results further encourage the implementation of ICF based tools in the clinical sector.