By Stefanie Schulz, Diplom-Rehabilitationspädagogin
The objective of this study is to present an overview of current projects applying the ICF as a practicable tool in German and international rehabilitation research and practice. The report cites all relevant literature sources relating to the most common ICF-activities in rehabilitation research and practice, with the aim of enabling further self-study.
History of ICF
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was officially endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and recommended for implementation within the WHO member states in 2001. ICF is considered to facilitate inter- and multidisciplinary work by providing a common language for the involved professions as well as patients and their proxies.
Many researchers and practitioners in various countries began to adapt ICF as a reference model mainly in the field of rehabilitation. However, to date no guidelines exist on how to use the ICF as a classification tool in practice. Therefore a variety of instruments are currently being developed and
implemented by different national and international working groups. Some important activities are being undertaken in European countries like Germany, Switzerland or Italy, but also in Australia and North America, to name only a few examples.
Need for improved coordination in Denmark
Activities in Denmark are neither nationally coordinated nor internationally perceived. Presenting an overview of implementation strategies abroad and possibilities of applying ICF to rehabilitation practice might encourage practitioners in this country to further expand the use of ICF in their work and to participate in international research projects like the development and validation of ICF Core Sets coordinated by the ICF Research Branch in Munich.
Objective of this study
The objective of this study is to present a survey of current projects using the ICF as a practicable tool in German and international rehabilitation research and practice.
The report shall reveal the most common activities in rehabilitation research and practice by describing them and collecting all relevant literature sources to enable readers to further self-study.
Organisation
The project was carried out in the period of April 1st til June 20th, 2008 at MarselisborgCentret Århus, bygning 1B, by the author with initial help of a librarian and in constant contact with two supervisors (Hanne Melchiorsen, ICF consulent and Claus Vinther Nielsen, head of research institute). The results were presented at a conference on June 6th, 2008 and in this report.
RESULTS
The literature review shows that WHO prioritizes three major projects of implementing ICF into rehabilitation practice and research:
- mapping of existing generic and desease-specific health-status measurements to ICF terminology (chapter 2)
- development, validation and implementation of ICF-Core Sets (chapter 3)
- development, validation and implementation of new ICF-based assessment instruments (chapter 4).
The contents of the report are structured according to these activities. Furthermore a selection of nationally and internationally important actors in research and practice identified are presented in chapter 5.
ICF is no longer only used as a philosophic reference model. Its practicability and with it its acceptance among practitioners has improved with the development of the here mentioned projects, tools and instruments.
Click here for the entire report: “Application and use of the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) in rehabilitation practice and research”
Contact information on Stefanie Schulz: steffischulz79@web.de
