Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in integrated care for people...

Integrated care addresses system fragmentation, especially for people with disabilities who require support across multiple domains. Most models focus on healthcare, overlooking social and environmental factors that hinder health management for people with disabilities. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)'s biopsychosocial approach integrates these broader factors, but its application in integrated care remains underexplored.

This scoping review aimed to explore the application of the ICF in research on integrated care, informed by the SELFIE framework, within the context of disability.

Following Joanna Briggs Institute's guidance and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, seven databases were searched from January 2011 to September 2023. Independent screening, selection, and data extraction were performed, with key findings related to integrated care identified deductively using the SELFIE framework.

Twenty-six studies were included. These focused on populations with visual impairments, hearing loss, intellectual or developmental disabilities, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, physical and learning disabilities, psychological impairment, and wheelchair users. Most studies applied the ICF as a conceptual framework rather than a coding system. Key elements of integrated care, such as holistic assessment, service delivery, leadership, governance, and workforce, were emphasized, while components like financing, technology, and research received limited attention.

Traditional integrated care models, focusing on disease management, fall short for people with disabilities, who have diverse, often cross-system needs and social barriers. This review highlights the importance of integrating the context of disability, with the ICF's biopsychosocial model playing a crucial role in addressing environmental factors impacting body functions, activities, and participation.