International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (Icf)

International Classification of Functioning (ICF) is a classification of health and health-related domains that provides a standard language for describing how people live with their health condition. It covers body functions and structures, activities and participation, from both individual and societal perspectives.

The ICF puts the notions of health and disability in a new light. Disability is not something that only happens to a minority of humanity. It acknowledges that every human being can undergo a decrement in health and thereby experience some degree of disability. The ICF thus mainstreams the experience of disability and recognizes it as a universal human experience.

By shifting the focus from cause to impact, it places all health conditions on an equal footing allowing them to be compared using a common metric--the ruler of health and disability. Furthermore, ICF takes into account the social aspects of disability and does not see disability only as medical or biological dysfunction. It also takes into account the impact of the environment on the person's functioning.

ICF is useful in understanding and measuring health outcomes. It can be used in clinical settings, health services or surveys at the individual or population level.

In view of the differing needs of different types of users, ICF is presented in multiple formats and versions:

ICF Full Version
A conclusive volume with glossary definitions and full list of codes including all details. Available in all official WHO languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).

ICF Pocket Version
The pocket size version contains main 2 level codes (max. 99 per list) for practical purposes.

ICF on CD-ROM
The CD-ROM includes ICF in 6 official WHO and other languages and provides the following functionality:
1. Allows browsing the classification in its tree structure
2. Can display two languages at the same time
3. Provides advanced search functions
4. Cross-references via hyperlinks
5. Allows the user to select and work on subsets of the classification
6. Internet based upgrading facility which allows incorporating future modifications in the classification and additional language versions
7. Allows user to send comments and feedback to WHO

ICF Full version in Large Print (for the visually impaired)