Development of an ICF Core Set for the Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions in Primary Care Physiotherapy Services

Primary care physiotherapy services provide community-based care for musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions are often associated with disability and impact on patients' quality of life. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the global framework for describing disability. ICF Core Sets are ICF-based tools that facilitate the clinical use of this classification. Some ICF Core Sets are designed to describe the functioning of patients with musculoskeletal problems.

These Core Sets are focused on the acute phase, typical of emergency care, and the post-acute phase, intended for multidisciplinary teams in rehabilitation centers. However, no ICF core set exists for the final stages of these conditions, when the patient has been reintegrated into the community. The development of ICF Core Sets follows a scientific process that integrates the perspectives of researchers, patients, professionals, and the care setting. Therefore, preparatory studies have been carried out, taking as a reference the physiotherapy services in primary care, where most of these conditions are treated.

These preparatory studies have made it possible to draw up a list of ICF categories that are candidates for being part of an ICF core set specific to these services. To confirm the relevance of these categories, a cross-sectional observational study will be developed by recruiting a group of experts. The experts will carry out two rounds of the survey according to the Delphi method. To be part of this group, sufficient expertise in the field of primary care physiotherapy will be required. The categories that reach consensus among these experts will be proposed in the development of a tailored ICF Core Set for primary care physiotherapy services.

The aim of this study is to confirm the relevance of the candidate categories and to develop a final version of an ICF Core Set for the management of musculoskeletal conditions in a primary care physiotherapy clinical setting. The availability of this tool would allow guiding physical therapy assessments, selecting optimal outcome measures, implementing person-centered care, and systematically recording clinical data.