The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in neurorehabilitation in Austria. Comparison of the healthprofessions occupational therapy, speech-and language therapy and physiotherapy / Die Internationale Klassifikation der Funktionsfähigkeit, Behinderung und Gesundheit in der Neurorehabilitation in Österreich. Vergleich der Berufsgruppen Ergotherapie, Logopädie und Physiotherapie
Published Online: Nov 16, 2017
Page range: 137 - 146
Received: Mar 09, 2017
Accepted: Sep 20, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijhp-2017-0024
Keywords
© 2017 Hannes Aftenberger, Gabriele Schwarze, Beate Salchinger, Angelika Rother, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.
Introduction
The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) provides the language and a framework applying a unified and standardized form to describe health and conditions related to health. Teams who work in an interdisciplinary and multi professional way, as it is the case in neuro rehabilitation, can profit from integrating the ICF. The aim of this paper was to show how well implemented the ICF is in Austria with occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists working in neuro rehabilitation.
Methods
The present paper is a follow-up project of the APPEAR study. An extended questionnaire, which has been sent to 109 therapists working in Austrian neurologic rehabilitation facilities forms the basis for the results presented here.
Results
64 questionnaires were returned from occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physio therapists and were used for evaluation. 50% of the therapists who answered the questionnaire (n=25) stated that the ICF has already been implemented in their institution. Therapists often applied ICF (n=35) when using common documentation systems. Additionally, therapists consider the ICF an aid to support interdisciplinary and multi professional work. The therapists also stated (n=27) that they are not satisfied with the ICF when inpatients become outpatients.
Conclusions
Many therapists answering the questionnaire consider the ICF an important tool for optimizing the rehabilitation process. Barriers contributing to hindering an implementation of the ICF should be eliminated in the future. In order to achieve that aim, institutions should provide time and financial resources to further the education of their employees.