The use of the ICF in the process of supplying assistive products: discussion paper based on the experience using a general Dutch prescription guideline.

For many people assistive products are important to perform daily activities and to participate in society. In the process of selecting the proper assistive product for a person, it is important to describe in a uniform and transparent way his/her present functioning and wishes with respect to functioning. To indicate how the ICF (the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) can be used during the supply process, we have taken as a framework a general guideline describing this process. The guideline distinguishes seven steps in the supply process and for each step an inventory is made of the actions of the client, the actions of the care professional, the instruments used, the decisions made, the data generated, relevant classifications (including the ICF) to code these data, and the results for the client. It is the aim of this discussion paper to describe the role of the ICF in the prescription and supply of assistive products and to discuss the specific data in this process that can be classified using the ICF. Although the ICF is not perfect, it is a useful tool to code important data in the process of supplying assistive products. Clinical relevance Assistive products - used worldwide by millions of people - are used to maintain or enhance functioning, rather than to cure a disease.( 1 ) As functioning can be classified with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), it can be expected that the use of ICF terminology in the supply process of assistive products will result in a better match between the characteristics of the person and the characteristics of the assistive product.