The ICF model of functioning and disability: Incorporating quality of life and human development

Abstract

A modified ICF model based on a systems perspective depicts a holistic view that acknowledges health, functioning, life quality and development are intertwined and are essential concepts to consider in the lives of all people.

Differences between Pre-School Children with and without Special Educational Needs Functioning, Participation, and Environmental Barriers at Home and in Community Settings: An International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth Approach

“…Instead of characterizing and dividing children by etiology, based on biomedical diagnosis, a holistic functioning profile allows us to describe their performance in everyday settings, emphasizing both their major strengths and limitations (McDougall et al, 2010). The categorization of children by etiology or diagnosis does not provide relevant information about functioning.…”

“…Perspectives on disability have been changing throughout history, from the medical model, which viewed disability as the manifestation of a health condition, to the social model, which considered disability as a social construct (McDougall et al, 2010). Most recently, the biopsychosocial model considers all the factors that have an influence on health and functioning in a more balanced way.…”

You’ve heard about outcome measures, so how do you use them? Integrating clinically relevant outcome measures in orthotic management of stroke

“…29 As such, mobility serves as a fundamental part of many activities of daily living and may affect quality of life. 23,30 It has even been proposed that improved quality of life and independence are a non-biomechanical effect of orthotic use post-stroke, 8 suggesting that mobility may affect both biomechanical and non-biomechanical outcomes. However, mobility is a broad domain and for the purpose of selecting an outcome measure it is helpful to use a framework like the ICF to further define it.…”

Using the ICF in work-related physiotherapy: a contribution to data collection about functioning

“…The ICF allows the collection of more specific data, as much for functioning in as for relating to the work environment and performing the activities related to it. [3][4][5][6] Much more than establishing a common language and a standard for the area, the ICF can serve as a tool for strategic actions to improve productivity, work efficiency, and the distribution of financial resources. 7,8 Knowledge on the general state of worker health may come from data generated by the evaluation of this population, since the laws of the country demand, for example, that any worker be examined when hired, fired, and also in the interim periodically, which can feed the health information systems.…”