Development of the international classification of functioning, disability and Health Core Sets for Hand Conditions: results of the World Health Organization internatinal Consensus Process

Purpose: A formal decision-making and consensus process
was applied to develop the first version of the International
Classification on Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core
Sets for Hand Conditions. Method: To convene an international
panel to develop the ICF Core Sets for Hand Conditions (HC),
preparatory studies were conducted, which included an expert
survey, a systematic literature review, a qualitative study and an
empirical data collection process involving persons with hand
conditions. A consensus conference was convened in Switzerland
in May 2009 that was attended by 23 healthcare professionals,
who treat hand conditions, representing 22 countries. Results:
The preparatory studies identified a set of 743 ICF categories
at the second, third or fourth hierarchical level. Altogether, 117
chapter-, second-, or third-level categories were included in the
comprehensive ICF Core Set for HC. The brief ICF Core Set for
HC included a total of 23 chapter- and second-level categories.
Conclusions: A formal consensus process integrating evidence
and expert opinion based on the ICF led to the formal adoption
of the ICF Core Sets for Hand Conditions. The next phase of this
ICF project is to conduct a formal validation process to establish
its applicability in clinical settings.