From Concept to Practice: The Development of ClinFIT for Musculoskeletal Disorders

Objective: This study aimed to develop ClinFIT-MSK, an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based clinical tool for the assessment and reporting of the functioning and rehabilitation potential of patients with a musculoskeletal condition. Design: This multistep, mixed-methods tool development process encompassed developing an initial shortlist of ICF categories (comprising the aggregation of the ICF Core Sets for musculoskeletal conditions and a literature search), identifying the ClinFIT-MSK items feasible for clinical use via a two-round Delphi survey, developing a simple description for each item and deciding on the rating scale through development working group consultations. These consultations were also instrumental at each step of tool development. Results: Based on a shortlist of 33 categories, the Delphi survey generated 17 items (7 body function and 10 activity and participation categories) which can be rated with a 0-4 scale (0 = no problem to 4 = complete problem) accompanied with rating specifications or with a 0-10 numeric rating scale without specification. Conclusions: ClinFIT-MSK can be used by rehabilitation professionals to support individualized care and track functional outcomes. It can also be employed in research and public health. Psychometric testing and cross-cultural validation will be pursued to ensure ClinFIT-MSK's scientific robustness and applicability across diverse settings.