Risks of permanent disability in low back pain patients associated with different job positions: a 5-year follow-up...

To present a systematic review on ICF used in the Nordic countries from 2001 to 2013, describing and quantifying the development in utilization of ICF, and describe the extent to which the different components of the ICF have been used.

A search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycInfo. Papers from Nordic countries were included if ICF was mentioned in title or abstract. Papers were assigned to one of eight categories covering the wide rehabilitation area; furthermore, area of focus was assigned. Use of ICF components and intervention were coded in papers categorized as 'Clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts' or 'Non clinical contexts'.

170 papers were included, of these 99 papers were from the categories 'Clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts' or 'Non clinical contexts'. 42% of the 170 included papers were published in the period 2011-2013.

There was an increase in ICF-relevant papers from 2001 to 2013, especially in the categories 'clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts' and 'non clinical contexts'. The most represented focus areas were neurology, musculoskeletal and work-related areas. All five or at least four ICF components were mentioned in the results or discussions in most papers; activity was most frequently mentioned.