Challenges in linking health-status outcome measures and clinical assessment tools to the ICF

This discussion paper focuses on using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a universal framework to examine health status outcome measures and clinical assessments. It reports challenges experienced whilst linking some assessment tools used by the allied health professions to the ICF. These included: establishing a common understanding of the ICF categories and structure; developing a common understanding of the linking rules; establishing the meaningful concepts contained in the assessment tools, and establishing the consensus in the linking process. It is recognized that the ICF does offer a standardized framework for describing health status, but on-going dialogue and debate between professions is required for reaching a standardized linking process. Ways to increase the reliability of the linking process will be critical to its success. The challenges described in linking the assessment tools to the ICF, can make a further contribution to that debate, and encourage others to similarly look at their own work.