Assessment of the relation between international classification system of functioning, disability and health and the eating evaluation tool and the swallowing quality of life questionnaire in patients with neurogenic swallowing disorders

The purpose of this study is to assess of the relation between International Classification System of Functioning, Disability and Health(ICF) and the Eating Evaluation Tool(EAT-10) and the Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire(SWAL-QOL) in patients with neurogenic swallowing disorders. The linking rules with expert opinion were used to evaluate the relationship of questionnaires with ICF. Expert opinions were made in the form of Delfie method. In first round, a joint meeting was held on the linking rules of 3 health professionals who were experts in swallowing. One of the experts was the moderator, and two were responsible for the linking. For two weeks, two experts independently linked each item of questionnaires to one or more appropriate items within the ICF. Associations in the second round were inosculated. In third round, the common view was confirmed at the moderator meeting. Appropriate question for defined ICF items were created with expert opinion and ask to patient. The correlation analysis between each question of the questionnaires and the related ICF items was performed. For the T-EAT-10 questionnaire, 21 linkings were made with 10 different ICF categories. 66% of the linkings were found to be body functions, 28% to activity and participation and 4% to environmental factors, while 4% were not definable. For the T-SWAL-QOL questionnaire, 75 linkings were made with 35 different ICF categories. 61% of the linkings were found to be body functions, 30% to activity and participation and 4% to environmental factors, while 4% were not definable. As a result, the structural definition of both surveys was made. An important approach has been provided for selection of the appropriate survey to be used in studies.