Objective: To investigate and summarize the literature on the validation of International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) core sets from 2001 to 2019 and explore what research methods have been used when validating ICF core sets. Methods: The current study is a scoping review using a structured literature search. Results: In total, 66 scientific articles were included, of which 23 ICF core sets were validated. Most validation studies were conducted in Europe using a quantitative methodology and were validated from the perspective of patients. Analysis methods differed considerably between the studies, and most ICF core sets were validated only once for a single target population or from a single perspective. The comprehensive core sets were validated more often than the brief core sets, and core sets for stroke and low back pain were validated most often. Conclusion: The results of the current study show that only 66% of the existing ICF core sets are validated. Many of the validation studies are conducted in a European context and from a single perspective. More validation studies of ICF core sets from the perspective of both patients and professionals are needed.

The purpose of this scoping review was to explore operationalizations and related conceptualizations of young children’s engagement in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The literature search was conducted in March 2021 across ERIC, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, with the aim of identifying studies where child engagement or involvement in ECEC settings was quantitatively assessed. The search resulted in 5965 articles, of which 286 were included in this review. Data were extracted about engagement conceptualization, theoretical frameworks, study population, study design, and engagement measurement tools and methods. Findings show variations in definitions and measurement of child engagement. Almost two-thirds of the studies lacked an explicit definition of child engagement. Young children’s engagement was typically defined as behaviors and interactions with the social and material environment, while involvement was depicted as an internal experience. The most common method of measuring children’s engagement in ECEC was observations by an external observer, followed by teacher surveys. Seventy-seven unique established measures of child engagement were identified. About one-third of the identified studies relied on unestablished measures of child engagement. Measures of general child engagement in ECEC had a focus on behavioral aspects of engagement, whereas most measures with a focus on engagement in academic activities also included cognitive and emotional aspects. To advance the research of child engagement in ECEC settings, more attention should be put into clarifying the concept of child engagement in terms of its generalizability, specificity, and temporality. Corresponding operationalizations should be precisely described. Our recommendations also include validating existing measures of child engagement and developing self-reports for young children.

Hearing loss (HL) affects the everyday functioning of millions of people worldwide. The Brief International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for HL was developed ...

Objectives: Self-assessment instruments are commonly used in audiological rehabilitation. However, several studies highlight the lack of multidimensionality in existing outcome measures, with the consequence that they only partially capture aspects of functioning in everyday life for people living with hearing loss. This study aimed to develop and investigate the content validity of a self-assessment instrument based on the validated Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Set for Hearing Loss. Design: The design was a two-part instrument development study. The first part focused on the item-generation process of the instrument, named the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) during an experts’ workshop. The second part focused on international content validation of the instrument using group interviews. Strategic sampling was used and 30 adults with hearing loss from India, South Africa, and the United States participated in the group interviews. Results: The expert’s workshop resulted in the first version of the HFEQ containing 30 items. The results from group interviews show that the content of the HFEQ was considered to be valid concerning its relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility. A majority (73%) of the HFEQ items were perceived by the participants as relevant and easy to comprehend. For the remaining 27% of the items, the content was perceived to be relevant in all countries, but some terms and expressions were reported to require rewording or clearer examples. These modifications will be made in the next step of the development process. Conclusion: Content validation of the HFEQ demonstrates promising results, with participants perceiving the content as relevant and comprehensible. Further psychometric validation is required to investigate other psychometric properties, such as construct validity and reliability. The HFEQ has the potential to become a valuable new instrument for assessing everyday functioning in people with hearing loss in audiological rehabilitation and in research.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to explore the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)–based original English version of the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) and to revise the HFEQ based on the results. Method: This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The data were collected using an online survey. Adults with self-reported hearing disability ( n = 513) from the United States were included. The ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors were tested as the underlying structure of the HFEQ using confirmatory factor analysis and then adjusted by triangulation with previous content validation. Results: The results of the current study confirmed the ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors as underlying constructs of the HFEQ. However, after triangulation with previous content validation, fine adjustments were made. The revised version of the HFEQ includes two removed items and a fine-tuned factor structure. Conclusion: The results confirm that the structure of the HFEQ aligns with the ICF, and the overall results indicate that HFEQ has acceptable construct validity and internal consistency.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to translate the English original version of the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) to Swedish, evaluate the translation in terms of comprehensibility and relevance from a patient perspective, and culturally adapt the Swedish version (HFEQ-SWE). Method: A six-step methodology including translation into Swedish according to best practice methodology, evaluation, and cultural adaptation of the HFEQ-SWE using qualitative focus group interviews was used in this study. Thirteen adults with hearing loss were recruited from the audiological clinic in Örebro, Sweden. Their mean age was 57 years, and the four-frequency pure-tone average for the best ear ranged from 5 to 115 dB HL. Results: The results demonstrated that most of the items in the HFEQ-SWE were viewed as relevant by the informants. Not all items were considered relevant for all people, which also reflect the individual variability of everyday functioning. Most items were recognized as comprehensible without any changes needed. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that the translation is semantically and culturally valid from the patient's perspective. Some revisions were suggested that need to be addressed in the further validation process of the HFEQ, and one item was removed.