Understanding Disability through Person-Environment Interaction
Author Information
Author(s): Carlo Francescutti, Francesco Gongolo, Andrea Simoncello, Lucilla Frattura
Primary Institution: Italian WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications, Direzione Centrale Salute, Integrazione Socio Sanitaria e Politiche Sociali, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Udine, Italy
Hypothesis
How can a standardized protocol for disability evaluation based on the ICF improve understanding of disability?
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that disability can be described as a continuum based on person-environment interactions, allowing for more personalized intervention strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- The study collected data from over 1,000 individuals to evaluate disability using an ICF-based protocol.
- Results indicated that the majority of activities had no problems, highlighting effective support in certain domains.
- Communication and learning were identified as the most challenging areas for participants.
Takeaway
This study shows that understanding disability is not just about individual problems but also about how people interact with their environment.
Methodology
The study involved a three-year project with six phases, including the collection of approximately 1,000 profiles and analysis using various statistical methods.
Potential Biases
Potential bias may arise from evaluators being part of the health system they are assessing.
Limitations
The sample may not be representative of all persons with disabilities, and the assessment tools used may vary across regions.
Participant Demographics
Participants were selected from 8 Italian regions, representing various functioning conditions across different age groups.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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