# Presentation: 338368

## Using the ICF as a Framework for Washington Group Measures

**Barbara M. Altman**
**Jennifer Madans**
**Elizabeth Rasch**
- National Center for Health Statistics

## Dictionary definition of frame identifies two very relevant components:
1. Something composed of parts fitted together and united.
2. The constructional system that gives shape or strength/ such a skeleton not filled in or covered.

- Dictionary definition of *frame* identifies two very relevant components:
- 1. Something composed of parts fitted together and united.
- 2. The constructional system that gives shape or strength/ such a skeleton not filled in or covered.

## Examine the ways that the ICF serves as a framework for the work of the Washington Group.
Examine the contribution that the Washington Group work is making to the ICF
Clarify that the Washington Group work is not an implementation of the ICF, but rather one form of utilization of the ICF

- Examine the ways that the ICF serves as a framework for the work of the Washington Group.
- Examine the contribution that the Washington Group work is making to the ICF
- Clarify that the Washington Group work is not an implementation of the ICF, but rather one form of utilization of the ICF

## ICF Model provides conceptual representation of the disablement process by identifying the basic individual and social components involved in that process. The model also provides a general, non-specific indication of the possible relationships among the components. 

- ICF Model provides conceptual representation of the disablement process by identifying the basic individual and social components involved in that process. The model also provides a general, non-specific indication of the possible relationships among the components.

## The ICF Model as a Frame

- Health Condition

- Body Functions & Structure

- Activity

- Participation

- Environmental             Factors

- Personal            Factors

- Source: ICF, 2001

## As a frame or framework, the ICF provides a series of concepts or parts that can be fitted together in a variety of ways - that is the relationship between the parts or conceptual elements are not united into one structure alone, but can be connected to each other in multiple ways that reflect the analytic questions being addressed

## Slide 8

## The sample structure proposes that Body Structure and Body Function can lead to various levels of Activity. 
Additionally this version of the model proposes that Environment intervenes between Body Structure/Body Function and Activity as well as impacting directly on Activity.

- The sample structure proposes that Body Structure and Body Function can lead to various levels of Activity.
- Additionally this version of the model proposes that Environment intervenes between Body Structure/Body Function and Activity as well as impacting directly on Activity.

## The flexibility of the ICF Model works well for the work of the Washington Group.
It allows for the inclusion of the  various purposes of measurement that can satisfy country’s needs for a variety of data.
For example the focus on “equalization of opportunity” purpose for the general measure allows the assumption that limitations in “basic action” places persons at risk for participation limitations.

- The flexibility of the ICF Model works well for the work of the Washington Group.
- It allows for the inclusion of the  various purposes of measurement that can satisfy country’s needs for a variety of data.
- For example the focus on “equalization of opportunity” purpose for the general measure allows the assumption that limitations in “basic action” places persons at risk for participation limitations.

## Slide 11

## Part 1 represents the conceptual components associated with the individual: Body structure/Body function and Activity/Participation
Part 2 represents the conceptual components that are located in the individual’s environmental and experiential contexts: Environmental Factors and Personal Factors.

- Part 1 represents the conceptual components associated with the individual: Body structure/Body function and Activity/Participation
- Part 2 represents the conceptual components that are located in the individual’s environmental and experiential contexts: Environmental Factors and Personal Factors.

## The strength of the ICF Model can be seen as the in depth elaboration of the conceptual components or the specific domains associated with each of the parts that make up the model.
The weakness of the ICF Model can also be found in these elaborations into domains which will need further specification and examination as use of the ICF grows.

- The strength of the ICF Model can be seen as the in depth elaboration of the conceptual components or the specific domains associated with each of the parts that make up the model.
- The weakness of the ICF Model can also be found in these elaborations into domains which will need further specification and examination as use of the ICF grows.

## The ICF Components chosen for use in development of international comparable measures focus thus far in the following areas:
Activity - focus for General Census Measure
Participation - focus for Extended Sets
Environment - focus for Extended Sets

- The ICF Components chosen for use in development of international comparable measures focus thus far in the following areas:
- Activity - focus for General Census Measure
- Participation - focus for Extended Sets
- Environment - focus for Extended Sets

## Cross cultural comparability
Suitability for self-report
Parsimony
Validity across various methodological modes 

- Cross cultural comparability
- Suitability for self-report
- Parsimony
- Validity across various methodological modes

## Focusing on the Area to Measure: Activity Including Basic Actions

- Activity - the execution of an action or simple task by an individual

- _Basic Activities_ are the *deliberate* execution of an action (walking);  _task activity_ involves coordination of basic activities (functioning at the whole person level) to accomplish a task(dressing)
- Activities are building blocks of participation
- Basic Activity limitations are a good and general identifier of ‘risk’ of limitations in  participation in culturally specified roles

## Participation - involvement in a life situation
As related to the purpose of measurement, participation is the outcome variable (not the risk) in which a person may or may not be involved. 

- Participation - involvement in a life situation
- As related to the purpose of measurement, participation is the outcome variable (not the risk) in which a person may or may not be involved.

- Represent problems an individual may have in life situations
- Involves the coordination of both physical and cognitive functioning to accomplish multiple tasks within an environment
- Is a more complex construction and is often modified or restricted by environment

## Environment - refers to all aspects of the world external to the individual
As relates to measurement it involves the natural geography as well as the man made physical and social context

- Environment - refers to all aspects of the world external to the individual
- As relates to measurement it involves the natural geography as well as the man made physical and social context

- Represents social policies that mold organizations as well as physical barriers in the built world.
-  Measurement of environment either at the individual level or the community level provides a less well explored challenge

## Attempts to develop domains to be used for the general census questions that represented basic actions at the whole person level (willful enactment of the actions involved with walking, seeing hearing, etc) demonstrated that these domains fall into two separate components of the model.

## ICF Language and Measurement Language

- The ICF model *concepts* are too general to provide indicators for individual questions, i.e. Activity can refer to many actions and simple tasks.
- The ICF *classification *is too detailed to provide a basis for indicators in a census or survey format. Each class would require a separate operationalization.
- Washington Group’s task is to operationalize the concepts/domains on a selective basis as they relate to the purpose of measurement.

## Decision to locate conceptual areas to be used based on purpose for data collection and limitations of mode of data collection.
Census and survey formats preclude in depth detail more suited to clinical settings.
Purpose of census data collection - “equalization of opportunity” - helps focus on domains necessary to provide that kind of information.

- Decision to locate conceptual areas to be used based on purpose for data collection and limitations of mode of data collection.
- Census and survey formats preclude in depth detail more suited to clinical settings.
- Purpose of census data collection - “equalization of opportunity” - helps focus on domains necessary to provide that kind of information.

## Coding of Activity/Participation component reflects ICF orientation to unasked/assumed  questions about the domain.
Both capacity and performance are represented as qualifiers to the domain code in terms of level of difficulty.
That assumes a question worded as to “how much difficulty is experienced”

- Coding of Activity/Participation component reflects ICF orientation to unasked/assumed  questions about the domain.
- Both capacity and performance are represented as qualifiers to the domain code in terms of level of difficulty.
- That assumes a question worded as to “how much difficulty is experienced”

## Washington Group work on census questions follows the ICF format very closely.
Example:
Question:Do you have difficulty seeing even if wearing glasses?
Answer: a) No - no difficulty b) Yes - some difficulty          c) Yes - a lot of difficulty 	d) Cannot do at all

- Washington Group work on census questions follows the ICF format very closely.
- Example:
- Question:Do you have difficulty seeing even if wearing glasses?
- Answer: a) No - no difficulty b) Yes - some difficulty          c) Yes - a lot of difficulty 	d) Cannot do at all

## Core Questions:
1. Do you have difficulty seeing even if wearing glasses?
2. Do you have difficulty hearing even if using a hearing aid?
3. Do you have difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
4. Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating?
Additional Questions:
5. Do you have difficulty with (self-care such as) washing all over or dressing?
6. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional health condition, do you have difficulty communicating (for example understanding others or others understanding you)?

- Core Questions:
- 1. Do you have difficulty seeing even if wearing glasses?
- 2. Do you have difficulty hearing even if using a hearing aid?
- 3. Do you have difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
- 4. Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating?
- Additional Questions:
- 5. Do you have difficulty with (self-care such as) washing all over or dressing?
- 6. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional health condition, do you have difficulty communicating (for example understanding others or others understanding you)?

## Questions 1 and 2 combine use of assistive devices within the question about difficulty functioning.
Questions 3 , 4, 5 and 6 combine two domains into one question - such as walking and climbing stairs - in order to capture more information.

- Questions 1 and 2 combine use of assistive devices within the question about difficulty functioning.
- Questions 3 , 4, 5 and 6 combine two domains into one question - such as walking and climbing stairs - in order to capture more information.

## Questions on Participation or more complicated aspects of Activity pose a problem.
Participation domains represent a complex set of activities that need to be accomplished.
Developing culturally comparable questions about participation need more extensive specification to capture equivalent data.

- Questions on Participation or more complicated aspects of Activity pose a problem.
- Participation domains represent a complex set of activities that need to be accomplished.
- Developing culturally comparable questions about participation need more extensive specification to capture equivalent data.

## Once again the implied questions from the ICF coding scheme is how difficult this form of participation is for the individual and how the use of assistance influences the results.
However, making the questions culturally comparable require more than one question to establish the elements that combine to accomplish this form of participation - the questions used may or may not reflect the whole process.

- Once again the implied questions from the ICF coding scheme is how difficult this form of participation is for the individual and how the use of assistance influences the results.
- However, making the questions culturally comparable require more than one question to establish the elements that combine to accomplish this form of participation - the questions used may or may not reflect the whole process.

## Slide 30

## Lack of a one to one relationship between the question and the domain because of complexity. 
Lack of equivalency of code based on different questions.
re the domain
re the level of performance or capacity
Lack of underlying standard or knowledge base to represent the domain

- Lack of a one to one relationship between the question and the domain because of complexity.
- Lack of equivalency of code based on different questions.
- re the domain
- re the level of performance or capacity
- Lack of underlying standard or knowledge base to represent the domain

## Washington Group is using the ICF as a tool to accomplish its stated purposes related to data collection
Washington Group work can be seen as taking the ICF frame (skeleton) of model and classification and beginning to elaborate it for use in survey type conditions.

- Washington Group is using the ICF as a tool to accomplish its stated purposes related to data collection
- Washington Group work can be seen as taking the ICF frame (skeleton) of model and classification and beginning to elaborate it for use in survey type conditions.

## Unlike developing surveys or censuses within one national grouping, a basic objective of the WG is to develop measures that are culturally comparable internationally.
Problems generated by the complexity of some ICF domains are compounded when the objective is to develop a measure that represents the same activity cross-culturally.

- Unlike developing surveys or censuses within one national grouping, a basic objective of the WG is to develop measures that are culturally comparable internationally.
- Problems generated by the complexity of some ICF domains are compounded when the objective is to develop a measure that represents the same activity cross-culturally.

## During the process of developing the census measures and in anticipation of developing the extended measures, the WG has demonstrated the usefulness of defining the purpose of data collection.
The WG has also developed a matrix that can be used as a tool to identify appropriate ICF concept areas and domains for the specified purpose.

- During the process of developing the census measures and in anticipation of developing the extended measures, the WG has demonstrated the usefulness of defining the purpose of data collection.
- The WG has also developed a matrix that can be used as a tool to identify appropriate ICF concept areas and domains for the specified purpose.

## In the process of examining the purpose of data collection and identifying relevant domains for measurement, the WG has identified some inconsistencies in the domains.
In order to facilitate the translation of the chosen domains into questions, the WG has also developed a measurement language that relates to the classification hierarchy.

- In the process of examining the purpose of data collection and identifying relevant domains for measurement, the WG has identified some inconsistencies in the domains.
- In order to facilitate the translation of the chosen domains into questions, the WG has also developed a measurement language that relates to the classification hierarchy.