Two steps forward, one step back? A commentary on the disease-specific core sets of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

PURPOSE: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been received favourably by health care professionals, disability rights organizations and proponents of the social model of disability. The success of the ICF largely depends on its uptake in practice and is considered unwieldy in its full format. To enhance the application of the ICF in practice, disease and site-specific core sets have been developed. The objective of this paper is to stimulate thought and discussion about the place of the ICF core sets in rehabilitation practice.
METHOD: The authors' review of the literature uses the ICF core sets (especially stroke), to debate if the ICF is at risk of taking two steps forward, one step back in its holistic portrayal of health.
CONCLUSION: ICF disease specific core sets could be seen as taking two steps forward to enhance the user friendliness of the ICF and evidence-based practice in rehabilitation. However, there is a danger of taking one step back in reverting to a disease-specific classification. It is too early to conclude the efficacy of the disease-specific core sets, but there is an opportunity to debate where the next steps may lead.