Journal Article

20 Years of ICF—International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Uses and Applications around the World

Michaela Coenen, Josephine Foubert, Alberto Raggi, Patricia Saleeby, Matilde Leonardi, Yanina Besstrashnova, Marie Cuenot, Ros Madden, Arianna Fornari, Manuel Yáñez, Jakub Hrkal, Thomas Maribo, Coen H. van Gool, Ann-Helene Almborg, Alexander Shoshmin, Soraya Maart, Andrea Martinuzzi, Nenad Kostanjsek, Shamyr Sulyvan Castro, Petra Sládková, Janice Miller, Christine Haas, Olaf Kraus de Camargo, Lucilla Frattura, Heidi Anttila, Guðrún Auður Harðardóttir, Jaana Paltamaa, Catherine Sykes, Marie Vikdal, Robert Jakob, Miroslav Zvolský, Eduardo Santana Cordeiro, Masahiko Mukaino, Ulrike Trinks, Haejung Lee, Magdalena Fresk, Stefanus Snyman

2022

Overview

The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) was approved in 2001 and, since then, several studies reported the increased interest about its use in different sectors. A recent overview that summarizes its applications is lacking. This study aims to provide an updated overview about 20 years of ICF application through an international online questionnaire, developed by the byline authors, and sent to each World Health Organization Collaborating Centers of the Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC CCs). Data was collected during October 2020 and December 2021 and descriptive content analyses were used to report main results. Results show how, in most of the respondent countries represented by WHO-FIC CCs, ICF was mainly used in clinical practice, policy development and social policy, and in education areas. Despite its applications in different sectors, ICF use is not mandatory in most countries but, where used, it provides a biopsychosocial framework for policy development in health, functioning and disability. The study provides information about the needs related to ICF applications, that can be useful to organize targeted intervention plans. Furthermore, this survey methodology can be re-proposed periodically to monitor the use of the ICF in the future.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: [SHS.SOCIO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Sociology / biopsychosocial / biopsychosocial; disability; functioning; health; ICF; international classification; public health / Classification / Cultural heritage / Disability / Disability Evaluation / Disabled Persons / functioning / health / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / ICF / Infectious diseases / International / international classification / International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health / international classification; functioning; disability; health; ICF; public health; biopsychosocial / kansanterveys / Literature reviews / luokitus / Mortality / People with disabilities / Persons with Disabilities / Public health / Questionnaires / R&D / Research & development / Sociology / Surveys and Questionnaires / terveys / vammaisuus / World Health Organization