Invitation to participate in a worldwide survey

The Erasmus Medical Centre, Department of Dermatology, Rotterdam and the Dutch Institute of Allied Health Care, Amersfoort, both in The Netherlands, are currently embarking on the development of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Sets for Lymphoedema.

Following the approval of the ICF by the World Health Assembly in May 2001, it is now possible to describe and classify functioning in health using a global language. While the ICF provides a universal framework, it needs adaptation when applied to clinical practice. ICF-based tools need to be tailored to the needs of the prospective users without foregoing the information needed for health statistics and health reporting.

With this objective in mind, an iterative scientific process for creating so-called “ICF core sets” (short lists of ICF health domains which are relevant to most patients with a specific health condition), has been developed. The core sets can be used by clinicians and health professionals for the assessment of patients and the evaluation of treatment.

The total project contains four preparatory researches, of which one is a once-only questionnaire by email among experts in Lymphology. Filling in the questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes. May we invite you to participate in this worldwide survey of experts who are engaged in lymphoedema?