ICF Australian User Guide V1.0

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5.    Activities and Participation: application in Australia

5.8    Advice to users - and how to contribute to national development by recording use in a 'test template'

This section has focused on Activities and Participation, both in terms of the life domains listed in the ICF, and the measures relating to them.

On the A-P list and the possibility of delineating Activities and Participation on domains according to WHO's option (a) it is suggested that agreement on splitting the domains may not generally be possible. One Australian application now developed (see Section 10.1) illustrates the benefits of using the flexibility offered by the classification with the new combined list and the options for use.

The qualifiers remain a major issue. Measurement is largely unresolved by the classification, and much work remains to be done, to avoid fragmentation in the early years of implementation. Progress is important because of the persisting possibility that some applications, particularly those with large resources, will swamp those that move more slowly or are less adequately resourced. It will be important to build up knowledge about measurement, and its purpose, its method and the impact of the perspective of the measurer. If options (b) or (d) are used for Activities and Participation, then different qualifiers are needed.

This approach, of providing additional qualifiers to delineate Activities and Participation, is the one suggested in this section, in the form of:

• a generic qualifier for Activities - difficulty with Activities, and one also for Participation - extent of Participation

• an additional qualifier for Participation, the option offered by the ICF (see Section 7)

• a supplementary, summary concept about assistance with Activity. This is still under development, and may need to be accompanied by advice on data collection.

This User Guide therefore proposes that Australian users:

• consider adopting options (b) or (d) for delineating between Activities and Participation, i.e. use qualifiers to delineate rather than splitting the A-P domains for that purpose

• if option (a) is preferred for any particular application, then record the split of domains and the reasoning for it

• use and comment on the draft data elements for Activity and Participation qualifiers (see Section 7)

• calibrate measures being used for the ICF generic qualifier

• record their experience in the suggested 'test template'.

The ICF should prove invaluable as a conceptual and information-oriented framework for a wide range of applications relating to human functioning. These applications are likely to increase quickly and significantly. The ICF classification has significant implications for national and international data collections, both in terms of the content of the collections and the scope of collections that could be affected.

This section has highlighted a number of areas where the classification allows some flexibility for the user. It is suggested that Australian users take advantage of this flexibility, but also record their experience systematically, so that knowledge can be built and shared rapidly.

Communication is essential to harness and harmonise the rapid progress that is likely to occur. Table 5.3 aims to act as a framework for this communication and promotes :

• a means of developing language, concepts and measures for Activities and Participation qualifiers

• protocols for calibration in a broad range of fields of application

• methods for sharing and publishing results, to promote discussion, quality and consistency.

The goal of such a template is to promote coherent ongoing development, and consistency where it is achievable. The template is structured as a set of suggestions for use and a corresponding 'area for comment'.

It must be emphasised that this template supplements the ICF. It is to be used alongside the ICF, and as a guide in areas where the classification has left some discretion to the user. All material in this section is designed to be consistent with the ICF but to guide the user in areas where flexibility remains.

Click on the button below to complete the Activity and Participation template.

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