Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in social services for elderly in Sweden

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the content of health information in acts of social services of elderly people in relation to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and to describe the health information in the different parts of the acts according to the ICF. Method: Health information of 25 acts from four municipalities was analysed and the concepts were linked to ICF codes, using the established coding rules. Results: The health information consisted of 372 concepts, which were linked to 122 specific ICF codes. The concepts in the acts were mostly linked to the ICF component Activities and Participation, except for the current functioning concepts where the ICF component Body functions was the most frequent. The 3rd level was most frequent in Activities and Participation and in Environmental factors, and the 2nd level was most frequent in Body functions. Conclusions: The ICF covers the concepts and terms contained in the acts to a large extent. Furthermore, the results show that the ICF codes differ in the different parts of the acts. The ICF provides a coherent and structured documentation, which contributes to a legally secure assessment of assistance. The selection of ICF codes can be used in development of “code sets” for social services for elderly.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The ICF covers, to a large extent, the concepts of health information used in the acts of the social service management process in Sweden.

• The concepts in the acts were mostly linked to the ICF component Activities and Participation.

• The ICF seems to be useful in the Electronic Health Record of social service management process for elderly people in Sweden.

Keywords::

• Elderly
• ICF
• needs assessment
• social care
• Sweden

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.