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The ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) developed by the WHO for measuring
H De la Corte-Rodriguez1, E C Rodriguez-Merchan2
1a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , La Paz University Hospital , Madrid , Spain.
Insights
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) offers a framework for assessing people with hemophilia (PWH). Physicians should adopt the ICF for a standardized approach to evaluating patient functioning and capacities.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Public Health
- Medical Classification Systems
Background:
- Assessing functioning is crucial for people with hemophilia (PWH).
- Numerous hemophilia-specific assessment tools, many based on the ICF, have been developed over two decades.
- The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a standardized framework.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the World Health Organization's ICF in the context of hemophilia.
- To encourage physicians treating PWH to integrate the ICF into their patient assessments.
- To highlight the benefits of a common communication context provided by the ICF.
Main Methods:
- This article presents a narrative review of the ICF.
- It discusses the ICF's application and benefits in hemophilia care.
- Expert commentary on the World Hemophilia Foundation's (WHF) compendium of ICF-based tools is included.
Main Results:
- The ICF facilitates an approach prioritizing capacities over difficulties.
- The World Health Organization's ICF offers a structured method for assessing PWH.
- A compendium of ICF-based assessment tools is available via the WHF website.
Conclusions:
- The ICF framework is highly relevant for assessing functioning in people with hemophilia.
- Widespread adoption of the ICF by physicians treating PWH will establish a unified communication standard.
- The ICF developed by the WHO should be implemented in hemophilia care.
Introduction:
Assessment of the disease in people with hemophilia (PWH) must include an analysis of functioning. Researchers have done a lot of work over the last two decades in developing disease specific assessment tools in hemophilia - some of them based on the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health).
Areas Covered:
This article is a narrative review of the ICF developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the context of hemophilia. Expert commentary: The WFH has developed a website with a 'compendium of assessment tools' based on the ICF. The ICF developed by the WHO makes it possible to propose an approach that prioritizes capacities over difficulties. This article is intended to motivate physicians who treat PWH to incorporate the ICF into their assessments. A generalized use of the ICF will provide a common communication context. The ICF developed by the WHO should be used in hemophilia.