The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: a new tool for understanding disability and health

Abstract

Reliable and timely information about the health of populations is part of the World Health Organization's mandate in the development of international public health policy. To capture data concerning functioning and disability, or non-fatal health outcomes, WHO has recently published the revised International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). In this article, the authors briefly outline the revision process and discuss the rationale for the ICF and the needs that it serves in rehabilitation. The ICF is shown to be an essential tool for identifying and measuring efficacy and effectiveness of rehabilitation services, both through functional profiling and intervention targeting. Existing applications of the ICF in rehabilitation are then surveyed. The ICF, in short, offers an international, scientific tool for understanding human functioning and disability for clinical, research, policy development and a range of other public health uses.

Barriers to and facilitators of employment for people with psychiatric disabilities in Africa: a scoping review

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Sociodemographic status of severely disabled and visually impaired elderly people in Turkey

“…In Turkey, a disability rate determined by a regional health board, including physicians specialized in related diseases, is taken into account. In addition to the international standards, these measures are used along with the Balthazar formula when assessing the total disability level of an individual (16) . In order to receive disability and nursing care benefits, the disability level of the individual must be at least 50% for them to be evaluated as "severely disabled" by the board.…”

Functioning at 6 months post stroke following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation

“…2,3 Little information is available on stroke survivor functioning in SA, particularly at the level of activity limitation (difficulties in task execution) and participation restriction (problems experienced in involvement in life situations). 4 A study in a deprived rural community reported a higher prevalence of stroke survivor disability than expected on the basis of international studies. 5 In another study of patients discharged from a remote rural hospital, 60% had a Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) score of 0 -3 at 3 months and participation in work, social activities, housework and sport was reduced.…”