Objective: To report on the results of the consensus process to develop the first version of both a Comprehensive ICF Core Set and a Brief ICF Core Set for breast cancer.
Methods: A formal decision-making and consensus process integrating evidence gathered from preliminary studies was realized. Preliminary studies included a Delphi exercise, a systematic review, and an empirical data collection. After training in the ICF and based on these preliminary studies, relevant ICF categories were identified in a formal consensus process by international experts from different backgrounds.
Results: The preliminary studies identified a set of 317 ICF categories at the second, third, and fourth ICF levels with 150 categories on body functions, 44 on body structures, 77 on activities and participation, and 46 on environmental factors. Nineteen experts attended the consensus conference on breast cancer (7 physicians with at least a specialization in physical and rehabilitation medicine, 2 with a specialization in internal medicine and one radiologist, 4 physical therapists, 2 occupational therapists, one psychologist, one epidemiologist and one nurse). Altogether 80 categories (73 second-level and 7 third-level categories) were included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set with 26 categories from the component body functions, 9 from body structures, 22 from activities and participation, and 23 from environmental factors. The Brief ICF Core Set included a total of 40 second-level categories with 11 on body functions, 5 on body structures, 11 on activities and participation, and 13 on environmental factors.
Conclusion: A formal consensus process integrating evidence and expert opinion based on the ICF framework and classification led to the definition of ICF Core Sets for breast cancer. Both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set and the Brief ICF Core Set were selected.