Functioning in postpartum period: identification of categories of International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from perspectives of brazilian physiotherapists
International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health; Functioning; Postpartum; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation.
Background: The puerperium comprises a unique and variable period in the life of all women who become mothers, starting after delivery until the organism returns to pre-gravid conditions. In addition, psychological and social changes are also present at this time. However, there is still a gap in the literature regarding the use of a specific and comprehensive instrument that addresses the full complexity of health and health-related states for postpartum women. Both the content and structure of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (CIF) allow us to broaden the understanding and optimize the planning of physiotherapeutic interventions designed to maintain the functionality of these patients. Objective: to identify categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (CIF) to evaluate the functionality of puerperae from the perception of Brazilian physiotherapists and to carry out content validation. Methods: a study developed from the Delphi methodology in three electronic rounds, including Brazilian physiotherapists with expertise in women's health. The process involved the capture of biopsychosocial aspects in the physiotherapeutic treatment of puerperae, identification of categories of the CIF and validation of content. Two independent researchers analyzed the categories, with concordance assessed by the Kappa coefficient. The Content Validity Index was calculated by category and in total, with cut-off point set at 0.80. Descriptive statistics served to characterize the sample. Results: The panel consisted of 45 participants, with a median age of 33 years, predominantly women (93.7%), doctoral (42.2%) and over 10 years of experience (40%). We identified 1,261 significant contents, associated to 258 categories of the CIF and Personal Factors. Initially, 74 categories obtained a sufficiently high consensus for judgment in the second round of Delphi, which were reduced to 66 specific categories validated by 89% of experts at the end of the third round, 11 of body functions, 14 for body structures, 14 activity and participation, 18 environmental factors and 9 personal factors. Conclusion: a total of 66 categories were identified based on the perception of physiotherapists regarding the functionality of puerperal women. These findings are unprecedented worldwide and may strengthen the implementation of the biopsychosocial health care model of this population.