The ICIDH: evolution, status, and prospects

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH) in the 1970s.
• The ICIDH is a scheme for measuring the consequences of disease, structured on three axes: impairment, disability, and handicap.
• It addresses experiences at the organ/function, individual action, and societal interaction levels.

Observation:

• This paper reviews the application of the ICIDH since 1980.
• Key uses include assessing disability prevalence, informing policy, managing institutions, and individual care.
• Identified issues include clarifying environmental factors, overlap between categories (disability/handicap, impairment/disability).

Findings:

• The ICIDH is well-established for classifying long-term non-fatal consequences of disease.
• Population disability assessment, policy formulation, and individual care have benefited from its use.
• Problems identified include the need for clearer definitions and addressing environmental influences on disability.

Implications:

• Future revisions should emphasize handicap as an interaction between impairments/disabilities and the environment.
• A revised ICIDH proposal was anticipated for finalization in 1998 and formal issuance in 1999.
• Improved classification can enhance public health strategies and disability management.