Laying the foundation for an instrument to assess environmental factors in people with chronic pulmonary diseases: mapping the content of the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) to ICF core sets

PURPOSE: To map the concepts assessed by Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) to International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and to ICF core sets related to pulmonary diseases. METHODS: Two professionals with adequate taxonomic knowledge of the ICF performed the initial linking, following standardized and updated linking rules. The same professionals subsequently linked the CHIEF items to the ICF core sets for post-acute cardiopulmonary diseases, obstructive pulmonary diseases, and interstitial pulmonary diseases to map CHIEF's alignment with the key concepts encompassed in chronic pulmonary diseases. RESULTS: CHIEF covered 25 categories across all ICF environmental domains. Several relevant categories for individuals with chronic respiratory conditions were not included, such as: e110 Products or substances for personal consumption, e120 Products and technology for personal indoor and outdoor mobility and transportation, e245 Time-related changes, e2450 Day/night cycles, e260 Air quality, e320 Friends, e340 Personal care providers, e355 Health professionals, e420 Individual attitudes of friends, and e450 Individual attitudes of health professionals. CONCLUSION: Although the CHIEF aligns with the ICF, important gaps were identified in air quality, health professional support, assistive products, and social support domains, indicating the need for adaptation.