Development of a Core Set for Knee Dysfunction Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE:To develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health core set for patients with knee dysfunction. DESIGN:Cross-sectional study. SETTING:The study was conducted at all levels of care (general community, primary care units, rehabilitation clinics/centers, hospital). PARTICIPANTS:Participants (N=388) with knee dysfunction with or without clinical diagnosis of knee pathology, with or without complaint of pain, with or without instability, and/or with or without knee movement restriction of any type. INTERVENTIONS:Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Participants were assessed using the core sets for acute and postacute musculoskeletal conditions, the subjective form from the International Knee Documentation Committee scale, the self-report of general health and functionality, and the general health and functionality classified by the researcher. To identify the categories that best explain knee dysfunction, linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS:Twenty-four categories were identified from the 75 core set categories for acute and postacute musculoskeletal conditions. Eleven categories belong to the component body functions, 3 represent body structures, 7 represent activities and participation, and 3 represent environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS:A core set for knee dysfunction that can be used at all levels of health care was proposed, which offers a system for disability assessment related to knee dysfunction, including environmental and social factors. These factors are important for a broad assessment because they include the multiple aspects of functionality, usually not considered in other knee dysfunction assessment instruments. Further analysis of the content and construct validity of the core set is required.