The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA
3337.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 5

Abstract #43379

Using the ICF in social work to address and eliminate health disparities

Patricia M Welch, MSSA, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, 7525 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-721-2717, welchp@gwbmail.wustl.edu

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been recognized recently as the international standard to describe and measure health and disability. The ICF has been tested for widespread application across age, culture, and gender groups, and therefore represents a mechanism to collect and to compare health outcome data across individuals and population sub-groups. Hence, the ICF provides a way to assess health disparities and to develop potential intervention strategies for eliminating such disparities. The ICF differs from its World Health Organization (WHO) predecessor, the International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH), in multiple ways. One important change is the inclusion of social and environment factors in the classification. While the ICF is inherently a health-related classification, it is intended for various uses across sectors, including social work. As an active participant in the multiple year revision process, the presenter will provide an overview of the WHO revision activities and highlight the changes from ICIDH to ICF. Additional applications to social work policy, practice, and research will be identified. At the end of the session, participants will be able to: (1) describe the major differences in the ICF, (2) articulate the uses of ICF in identifying and reducing health disparities, and (3) list the potential ICF applications for public health social work policy, practice, and research.

Learning Objectives:

  • The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been recognized recently as the international standard to describe and measure health and disability. The ICF has been tested for widespread application across age, culture, and gender groups, and therefore represents a mechanism to collect and to compare health outcome data across individuals and population sub-groups. Hence, the ICF provides a way to assess health disparities and to develop potential intervention strategies for eliminating such disparities. The ICF differs from its World Health Organization (WHO) predecessor, the International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH), in multiple ways. One important change is the inclusion of social and environment factors in the classification. While the ICF is inherently a health-related classification, it is intended for various uses across sectors, including social work. As an active participant in the multiple year revision process, the presenter will provide an overview of the WHO revision activities and highlight the changes from ICIDH to ICF. Additional applications to social work policy, practice, and research will be identified. At the end of the session, participants will be able to

    Keywords: Social Work, Health Information

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:
    I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

    Social Worker Poster Session

    The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA