[The evaluation of the correspondence of two systems of measurement: the case of Val.Graf FVG Residential Version and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health].

Objective: to study the links between the Val.Graf.FVG form and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The Val.Graf.FVG form is a tool for a multidimensional evaluation of elderly people resident or with health domicile in Friuli Venezia Giulia and living in a care home.
Design: a qualitative analysis of the links between Val.Graf.FVG and ICF was performed following the mapping rules recommended by the literature. The links were searched for, with the support of a database, by two independent researchers expert in ICF and Val.Graf.FVG, respectively. When disagreement was present, a third researcher expert in ICF was involved.
Main Outcome Measures: we searched for semantic links, semantic fields that cannot be linked and ICF constructs to which Val.Graf .FVG items refer to.
Results: 186 items out of 207 (89.9%) of the Val.Graf. FVG form could be semantically linked to 156 ICF categories. 21 items (10.1%) could not be linked. When looking at the constructs, it appears that while ICF assesses the level of functioning of an individual through four components (functions, structures, activity and participation, and environmental factors) put into operation by qualifiers (for example, capacity, performance), the Val.Graf.FVG form assesses the levels of autonomy and the quantity of personal and technological support needed by the elderly living in a care home.
Conclusions: the mapping methodology accurately evaluates the characteristics and the conceptual structure of the measurement tools documented in the literature and/or used in care practice, facilitating their comparison. The analytical analysis of the items and constructs of the Val.Graf. FVG form confirmed that the aim of this tool is the definition of the support needed by an individual, while no information on his/her functioning level is given. Thus, the Val.Graf. FVG form should be used only to understand the quantity of resources necessary to assist elderly people living in a care home.