Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Assessment of Disability by Social Workers

The present research was performed using qualitative method to describe the assessment of disability from the perspective of social workers using the International Classification of functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with fourteen experienced and knowledgeable social workers about ICF selected in a targeted and accessible manner, then were classified by thematic content analysis and adaptation of the obtained concepts to ICF. First the Concepts classified in 16 main categories including: work and employment, economic status, interactions and support, education and training, dwelling /housing and interior physicalspace, physical space outside the home, supervision and care, social mobility and transportation, attitudes and customs and culture, Welfare facilities and technology, media and mass communication, social security, social voluntarily activity and participation, leisure, health and rehabilitation services, climatic conditions; and The subcategories were matched with 79 ICF descriptive codes, that referring to 11 ICF headings: 6 headings are related to activities and participations and 5 headings are related to environmental factors. The results of this study introduce ICF as a suitable tool for assessing disability by social workers. Also much attention has been paid to the components of activities and participations and environmental factors and shows a systematic approach in assessing the social dimension of disability. Therefore, the ICF can assist to a systematic assessment in rehabilitation social work.