• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.321-327
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose was to link items of questionnaires that measure functioning and disability of persons with Low Back Pain (LBP) into the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RM), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), and Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36) were evaluated to map items of those questionnaires into the ICF categories. The linking rule was employed and linking was performed independently by 10 health professionals. One-hundred and two patients with LBP were recruited from 19 medical institutes to this study for a field test to examine relations between the scale and its linked ICF category set. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze their relationships. Results: Walking was only found to be one-to-one linking between the scale and the ICF. Sixty questions in FABQ were to be linked to 9 of ICF categories. Ten and 14 ICF categories were able to be linked to RM and ODI respectively. It was found that majority of items from ODI and RM scale had similar concept and linked to the same ICF category. SF-36 had only 15 categories of the ICF linked. Strong relationship was observed between measurement scales and linked ICF code sets (r=0.79, r=0.65, r=0.47, and r=-0.31 for ODI, RM, FABQ and SF-36 respectively). Conclusion: It was found that commonly used clinical tools for LBP may be linked to ICF. The study results may suggest that clinical data can be standardized to communicate between related professionals.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.239-245
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was to identify international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) categories that could be linked conceptually to disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) items and short form of health survey 36 (SF-36) items for persons with shoulder pain. Methods: Linkage between each item in DASH and SF-36 and the categories in the ICF were assessed. The linking process was performed by ten health professionals following the linking rule. One hundred four patients with shoulder pain were enrolled from 12 private clinic outpatient departments and participated in this study. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationships between each scale item and the linked ICF code. Results: Thirty DASH items were able to be linked to 30 ICF codes, whereas the 36 items in SF-36 were only linked to 17 ICF codes. General health items included in SF-36 could not be linked to a relevant ICF concept. There was a high correlation between the two measurement tools and the linked ICF codes, DASH and its ICF code list (r =0.91), SF-36-Physical Health and its code list (r =-0.62), and SF-36-Mental Health and its code list (r =-0.72). Conclusion: The results suggest that concepts within each item in DASH can be linked to ICF codes for patients with shoulder pain, however, the concepts in the SF-36 items had limited linkage to ICF codes. The shoulder-specific functional tool, DASH can be expressed with ICF codes and, therefore, its use can promote data standardization and improve communication between professionals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.65-80
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study was conducted as a literature review to analyze the research trends related to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Korea from 2015 to 2020. METHODS: Precedent studies were searched with the search term "ICF" or "international classification of functioning, disability and health" from the databases of RISS, KISS, DBpia, and Pubmed. The inclusion criteria are that the studies have been carried out in Korea from 2015 to 2020 using ICF by researchers consisting of one or more Koreans and have been peer-reviewed. RESULTS: Of the total 269 studies, 107 that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. It was found that these studies were published at a similar frequency each year. The most common area of expertise was identified as the clinical area (n = 67), followed by special education (n = 21) and social welfare (n = 13). The study subject groups were mostly patients (n = 39), disabled people (n = 25), and related experts (n = 13). The most common research topic was functioning evaluation (n = 49) and followed by a literature review (n = 29), and the most frequently used components in all the areas of expertise were activity and participation (n = 98), body function and structure (n = 73), and environmental factors (n = 61). CONCLUSION: For the past six years, domestic ICF-related research has been conducted in a wider range of expertise areas on more subdivised subject groups. Continuous research, development of standardized curricula and contents, and development of coding tools are considered to be important in vitalizing the use of the ICF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.33-44
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the research trends related to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) to suggest an ICF utilization plan in the Korean clinical field. METHODS: In the RISS, KISS, NSDL, and PubMed databases, papers published between 2016 and July 2021 were collected by applying the search terms, 'ICF', 'international classification of functioning, disability and health', 'clinic', 'patient', and 'diagno'. The 44 papers selected were classified according to the analysis criteria, and the frequency and percentage were calculated. RESULTS: In domestic clinical trials, the frequency of ICF-related studies was in the order of physical therapy (n = 19) and occupational therapy (n = 14). The frequency of each study subject was observed in the order of studies related to a specific disease (n = 34) and prior studies (n = 7). The research topics were in the order of studies using ICF as a measurement tool (n = 21) and case studies with patients with specific diseases (n = 11). There were 18 studies using ICF codes and 14 papers applying the ICF domains. CONCLUSION: Over the last five years, ICF-related research in the domestic clinical field targeted patients with more diverse diseases in more expertise fields. Research for the unification of terms should be conducted for communication among various experts in clinical practice. To promote the use of ICF in the clinical field, it will be necessary to conduct research, such as the unification of terms, standardized education, development of ICF casebook, and development of ICF coding programs and guidelines.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2021

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Child and Youth version (ICF-CY) is designed to record the characteristics of developing children and examine the influence of a child's environment on their health. Objects: This study was designed to determine the relationship between the clinically extracted ICF-CY items and The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) items. Methods: Thirty patients (17 males and 13 females) who were hospitalized in a pediatric and youth patient unit of a rehabilitation hospital were included in the study. Four health professionals (two physical therapists and two occupational therapists) working independently linked the PEDI and GMFM-66 items to the activity and participation domains of the ICF-CY. Results: There were strong negative correlations between the ICF-CY subdomains and the PEDI subdomains (r = 0.76-0.95; p < 0.05). There were positive strong correlations between the ICF-CY subdomains and the GMFM-66 (r = 0.76-0.95; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The extracted ICF codes were a valid tool for evaluating the mobility and selfcare conditions of cerebral palsy in the pediatric rehabilitation area.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.344-350
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) into the Korean language. Methods: The process of translation and adaptation of the ICF used here followed the translation guidelines of WHO. Implementation of this procedure comprised of four steps; forward translation, expert panel back-translation, pre-testing and cognitive interviewing, and final adaptation. The translators included health professionals with knowledge of ICF and non-health professionals blinded to the ICF. Clinical academics with significant experience in the use of disability survey, medical doctors, special educators, related policy makers, clinicians, architecture professionals, and international experts in ICF were invited to integrate all versions of the ICF for testing; 151 clinicians volunteered from 19 medical institutes across the country. Four different core-sets and a questionnaire were used for testing its practical usability and adaptation. Results: All translations were reviewed and a consensus was reached on any discrepancy from the earlier versions. Over 90% of the newly translated version of K-ICF was found to be different from the 2004 K-ICF version in the ICF language. Understanding of K-ICF language was responded difficult and very difficult by 50% of participants, whereas its practical use was responded 'useful' by more than 50% of subjects. Conclusion: It can be suggested that the new version of K-ICF should be widely used for final adaptation in the field of areas. Future studies will be required for implementation of K-ICF.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.341-347
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate items of commonly used questionnaires that measure functioning status of persons with stroke and map to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: Eighty-six patients with stroke were recruited from 12 medical institutes for the study. Each item of the Modified Bathel Index (MBI), Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Mini Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE) and SF-36 were examined and compared its concept with the ICF. Concept linking was performed by 10 health professionals independently. A field test was performed to assess its correlation between those of scales and their linked ICF category sets. Results: It was found that 11 items in MBI was linked to 14 ICF categories, whereas 27 items of MMSE had 10 categories of ICF linked. 60 items of SIS were to be linked with 35 ICF categories. Agreement between professionals in linking was found to be high: 97.5% for MBI items, 78.0%, 78.0%, and 74.8% for MMSE, SIS, and SF-36 respectively. Strong relationship was observed between measurement scales and linked ICF code sets (r=-0.76 for SIS, r=-0.78 for MBI, r=-0.47 for MMSE) whereas there was no relationship was found between SF-36 and its ICF code set (r=-0.06) from the field test. Conclusion: It was found that items of SIS, MMSE and MBI may be linked to ICF categories. Those of linking concept between clinical tools and the ICF could be helpful for clinical data standardization.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.323-350
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• 2011

Work ability is a fundamental factor to determine who are the recipients of disability benefits or employment services. Disability Grade based on medical impairments is used as a work ability assessment in Korea, but it has been heavily criticized that it does not assess disabled person's work ability adequately. This study tried to find out an index which explains employment status of disabled persons the best among four work ability assessment indexes of disability grade, level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction, level of help needed with daily activities, and self-assessed health status. As a result, the level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction explained the employment status the best, and help needed for daily activities is the second, disability grade is the third, and self-assessed health status is the last. In conclusion, level of ICF activity limitations and participation restriction is the best work ability assessment in Disabled People Pension and Employment Policy for Disabled People. Therefore, it is the basic premise to develop a new work ability assessment index which consists of items in ICF activity limitations and participation restriction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.356-363
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the overview of the use of the ICF in Korea. Methods: An integrative literature review from its publication in 2001 to May, 2015 was conducted; studies published from 2001 to May, 2015 were searched using RISS, KISS, DBpia, KoreaMed, PubMed, and ISI databases. For inclusion in the review, a study had to be published as a scientific article, must have participation of Korean researchers and developed in Korea, and should provide use of ICF. Results: A total of 108 publications were identified, and 89 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most eligible studies were related to clinical fields (n=41) and areas with the disabled (n=32). Interestingly, several studies showed how to use and/or adapt ICF in clinical practice e.g. reviews and case studies, whereas in the area of the disabled, descriptive studies reported ICF concepts comparing with the current disability policies and laws in Korea. The usage of ICF was found to be at various levels: introducing the ICF concept and model, collecting data using the ICF checklist, coresets, as well as ICF codes itself and presenting results in the ICF framework, developing measurement tools based on ICF concepts. Conclusion: Since introduction of the ICF in 2001, the use of the ICF in Korea has increased in different professionals as well as in levels of its applications.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.282-287
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) in disability, pain, and cognition, and to compare those characteristics to the ICF concept analyzing the association between World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0: 12 item-interviewer version (WHODAS 2.0) and those of scales i.e. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ), and the Fear avoidance & belief questionnaire (FABQ). Methods: A total of 91 patients with CLBP were invited to participate in the study. Physical therapists interviewed all participants using SFMPQ, FABQ, ODI, and WHODAS 2.0 for collection of information on pain, cognition, and functional level data. Subjects scored their disability, pain, and cognition related to LBP using WHODAS 2.0, ODI, SFMPQ, and FABQ. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: A positive relationship was observed between WHODAS 2.0 and each scale indicating that lower back specific disability components could be related to the ICF concept in ODI (r=0.77). Pain intensity and pain oriented movement were found to be related to general functioning in patients with CLBP (r=0.52, r=0.55, respectively). Conclusion: It can be suggested that the specific disability scale for LBP, ODI can be related to the ICF concept, WHODAS 2.0, and it may be a useful measure for patients with CLBP.