Title: Conceptual Models of Disability – PM&R KnowledgeNow
Headings: Conceptual Models of Disability
Conceptual Models of Disability
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Overview and Description
Introduction
Conceptual Models of Disability
Current Concepts
Applications of ICF
Conclusion
References
Original Version of the Topic
Author Disclosure

Content: Applications of the ICF include policy, economic, research and intervention studies. The ICF is not without limitations. Some recommendations for improvement include distinguishing between elements of activity and elements of participation, adding quality of life concepts, and expanding upon contextual and personal factors. 13
B) Defining Rehabilitation Strategy
The ICF has been used to define Rehabilitation as a “health strategy “that “applies and integrates approaches” rooted in concepts of functioning , contextual factors, capacity, performance, person-provider partnership, and self- perception, health condition course through continuums of care and across sectors with the goal of optimal functioning. 14
C) Developing clinical tools
The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-2) 15 was created in 1998 as WHODAS II in line with the ICF conceptual model and to be used in assessing the disability based on this model. There are 36 items (self-administered and covering the past 30 days) on functioning and disability covering seven domains under WHODAS-2, which are the following (and explicit): Understanding and Communicating (6 items)
Getting around (5 items)
Self-care (4 items)
Getting along with others (5 items)
Life activities: Household (4 items)
Life activities: Work/School (4 items)
Participation in society (8 items)
For each item, the response is scored from 1 (No difficulty), 2 (Mild difficulty), 3 (Moderate difficulty), 4 (Severe difficulty) to 5 (extreme difficulty or cannot do), with scores for each domain based on item responses, with room for missing items up to 30% for each domain. A final score is then computed that fits into a range from 0 to 100 with higher score as evidence of higher disability.