ICF Resources
ICF Keynote Papers
ICF Applications
Register of ICF Experts
Published Articles on ICF and Applications
Useful Links - NEW LINKS ADDED!
ICF Keynote Papers
Introduction to ICF - English
Introduction to ICF - Spanish
Using the ICF in clinical practice - NEW!
ICF Applications
Physical therapists around the world are using the ICF in their work. We have put together a list of examples of ICF applications and educational materials that are relevant for physical therapists and where to find further information on them.
If you are undertaking a research project applying the ICF in a data collection or have developed any ICF training materials or curricula using ICF which you are willing to share, please download and complete the ICF Resources Form and return it to the WCPT Secretariat at websupport@wcpt.org
Register of ICF Experts
Some physical therapists have been using the ICF for a number of years and have experience of applying it in a number of ways. WCPT is hoping to develop a register of physiotherapy experts who are able to assist others. It is hoped this register will enable us to put you in contact with someone who may be able to help you use the ICF to improve your practice or simply to discuss what the ICF may be used for.
If you would like to contact someone who may be able to help you use the ICF to improve your practice or would like to discuss what the ICF may be used for please contact the WCPT Secretariat at websupport@wcpt.org giving a brief outline of your enquiry. We will then try to find the most appropriate person on the Register of ICF Experts to assist.
Please note: Some of the people registered may also offer their services as consultants to ICF projects. Any arrangements between the enquirer and an expert selected from the list are entirely the responsibility of the partners to the arrangement not the WCPT.
A listing on the Register of ICF Experts does not imply any endorsement of an individuals skills or services.
Published Articles on ICF and Applications
There are an increasing number of published articles that reference the ICF. Many of these have been collected into an alphabetic reference list. The list will be periodically updated. The list is not exhaustive and WCPT will add references recommended to the programme moderator. If you can suggest references that should be added please email Catherine Sykes, the programme moderator, at
crsykes@gmail.com citing the reference in published format.
Published articles on ICF and applications (pdf 162kb)
Published articles on ICF and applications (Word 318kb)
Last updated April 2008
Useful Links
The World Health Organization is mandated under its constitution to produce international classifications on health so that there is a consensual, meaningful and useful framework which governments, providers and consumers can use as a common language. The ICF is one of the reference classifications in the WHO Family of International Classifications.
Included on this site is an online browser. You can see the structure of the classification, look up the codes and definitions, create your own short lists of ICF codes and view the classification in more than one language. The ICF browser includes versions in the six official languages of the WHO; English, French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic as well draft versions in Swedish and German. A draft of the ICF derived classification for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) is also available on the browser.
Other language versions of the ICF have been made. Please enquire from one of the collaborating centres to see if ICF is available in your language.
WHO works with a number of collaborating centres. These centres are located in all regions of the world and may be able to help with your ICF questions. Many of them maintain websites that may include information on the ICF. A list of collaborating centres is available on the WHO website.
Each region of the world is served by a WHO Regional Office with a responsibility to support the Member States in the generation and the use of appropriate health information. A list of WHO regional offices is available on the WHO website.
The Australian Collaborating Centre has published an ICF User Guide as a complement to the ICF. The guide provides information on the content and usefulness of the ICF, current and emerging applications of ICF in Australia and advice about ‘getting started’ as well as supporting a consistent and constructive approach to using the ICF. This and other publications on data collections using the ICF are available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website
The North American Collaborating Centre produces a monthly electronic newsletter with information on projects on ICF. You can subscribe to this newsletter via their website
The Dutch Collaborating Centre produces a newsletter two to three times a year and maintains a database of references on ICF. |
WHO Beginner's Guide
The WHO Beginner's Guide provides an overview of the ICF and its underlying principles. Examples of how the classification can be used are included. |
New Website
The WHO Collaborating Centre in France has recently opened a website with ICF information. At this time only the main page is in open access for everyone. This page is dedicated to the common activities of the IFRH (Institut Fédératif de Recherche sur le Handicap) and the CTNERHI (Centre National d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les Handicaps et les Inadaptations) about the ICF (International Classification of Functioning). A first seminar, entitled ICF and Demography was held in Paris at the INED (Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques) on 10th January, 2006.
Seule la page principale http://ifrhandicap.ined.fr/CIF est consultable en libre accès. Cette page présente les activités communes à l'IFR H (Institut Fédératif de Recherche sur le Handicap) et au CTNERHI (Centre National d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les Handicaps et les Inadaptations) concernant la CIF (Classification Internationale du Fonctionnement, du Handicap et de la Santé). Un premier séminaire intitulé "CIF et Démographie" s'est tenu à l'INED (Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques), à Paris, le 10 janvier 2006. |
Find ICF references - NEW!
Biomedcentral is the publisher of 179 peer-reviewed open access journals . The research articles in all journals published by BioMed Central are immediately and permanently available online without charge. BioMed Central views open access to research as essential in order to ensure the rapid and efficient communication of research findings . To register for access to journals go to: http://www.biomedcentral.com/registration?url=%2Fmy%2F
BioMed Central has just introduced a new information portal calling attention to the developing world's need for open access to the scientific and medical literature. |
ICF Checklist
The ICF checklist is a subset of the major categories in the ICF for use in clinical settings The ICF Checklist is a practical tool to elicit and record information on the functioning and disability of an individual. |
ICF Community of Practice
An ICF ‘Community of Practice’ website hosted by the Centre for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange opened in 2006.
This website has similar facilities to the WCPT site. It hosts an ICF Forum, for discussion of ICF related questions a bulletin board, a list of resources and links to other websites with ICF content. |
ICF-INFO - NEW!
This online browser , ICF-INFO, is a searchable database of ICF and associated materials . http://classbeta.who-fic.nl/browser.aspx , It has been developed in the Dutch Collaborating Centre for the WHO Family of International Classifications. Y ou can search for an item or on any term you want. The browser includes outline descriptions of a range of educational materials and examples of applications from a range of countries. Though the outlines are in English, not all the materials are. The contact details are included so that you can contact the owner/developer for further information or accessing the materials. |
ICF in Italy
Four ICF training slide sets (in Italian) are included on this website for the Disability in Italy Network (DIN) |
ICF Conferences - NEW!
- The North American Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications held its 13th annual meeting on the ICF in June 2007. The conference theme, Sharing knowledge through the ICF, points to the role of the ICF in making it possible for us to communicate about disability across countries, cultures, languages, and professions.The program, which can be accessed at http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/icf/conference/program.pdf includes the abstracts of papers presented.
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Outcomes Calculator - NEW!
The Centre for Allied Health Evidence together with the School of Computing Science (University of South Australia), has developed the Outcomes Calculator to facilitate the use of standardised outcome measures in clinical practice to monitor change in patient status over time.
The outcome measures contained within the Outcomes Calculator have been selected based on their validity, reliability, sensitivity to detect change over time and clinical utility for patient populations frequently treated by physiotherapists. They represent a range of aspects of functioning / disability, which are measured at the level of body functions / structure, the individual and society, as defined by the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
To register to download free copies of this software go to: http://www.unisa.edu.au/cahe/Outcomecalculator.asp
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Presentations on the internet in English and Norwegian - NEW!
Aas RW, Thorsen G. ICF, introduction structure, components and codes
Grotle M. Application of ICF in research
Øs tensjø S. ICF in studies of children with cerebral palsy
Haugsb ø A. Implementation and training program in Norwegian
www.nordclass.uu.se
www. kith.no/icf |
Visual Resources
If you are producing slides or brochures featuring functioning and disability there are two resources that may be of interest; photographs from the ICF photo contest and a library of illustrations for ICF domains.
ICF photo contest
| The ICF photo competition is an annual event. Images (black and white, coloured and digitally produced) covering the spectrum of disability across many cultures. may be down loaded from the WHO website. For example: |
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ICF illustration library
‘The ICF illustration library is an illustrated website version of the ICF. It provides a simple and understandable way of navigating the structure and construction of ICF. The web site includes Japanese English and Spanish versions of the library. Access to each version is free, and it enables users to view the classification via a hierarchical structure with accompanying codes, text and illustrations. The pages on the site can be potentially used as a training aid for understanding the structure and composition of the ICF, as well as an online aid for using and interpreting the ICF classification system. Use of the illustrations in addition to the text result in more standardized interpretation of the classification and thus ensures consistency of its interpretation. Although the library has been specifically designed with dealing with elderly patients in mind, its design would also lend itself to being adapted for other patients groups and used in other cultural settings.’ For example
If you know of other links that may be useful please inform Catherine Skyes, the programme moderator, at
crsykes@gmail.com
