APPLYING INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF FUNCTIONING, DISABILITY AND HEALTH (ICF) IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

T.A. Stamm , A. Cieza , K. Machold , J. Smolen , G. Stucki Rheumatology, Vienna Medical University, Wien, Austria, ICF Research Branch of the WHO Collaborating Center for the Family of International Classifications, IMBK, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, GermanyRecently, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been approved by the World Health Assembly. All member countries are therefore requested to implement the ICF.The ICF is a classification which should model functioning in daily life in a comprehensive way. The ICF consists of the components body functions and body structures and activities and participation and the contextual factor components environmental factors and personal factors. Each component consists of several chapters, and within each chapter, categories, which are the smallest and most detailed units of the classification (1).In order to apply the ICF in clinical practice, there are different approaches. One approach is the development of "ICF Core Sets" which are short lists of categories selected from the ICF and which should represent the typical spectrum of functioning of patients with a certain disease. An example is the ICF Core Set for rheumatoid arthritis which is currently being tested for validity and reliability in clinical practice.Another approach is the use of the ICF model as a framework for multidisciplinary teams. An example is the application of this framework on a rehabilitation ward in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.A third approach is to link instruments to the ICF to guide the comprehensive assessment of patients. An example are disease specific and generic measures used in patients with rheumatic diseases and measures of participation and occupation which have been linked to the ICF.References: (1) WHO. ICF - International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2001.Citation: Ann Rheum Dis, volume 64, supplement III, year 2005, page 15Session: The ICF: WHOs universal model of disability