Rationale for mICF

1. Rationale for
ICanFunction (mICF) mobile
health application based on ICF
17-23 October 2015
Manchester, United Kingdom
Poster Number
WHO/CTS to insert
Snyman S1, Kraus de Camargo O2, Anttila H3, Leonardi M4
on behalf of the International mICF Partnership
1University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; 2 CanChild, McMaster University, Canada;
3National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland; 4 Besta Institute, Italy
A Abstract
We are developing the ICanFunction (mICF) mobile health solution, a state-of-the-
art application and paradigm shifting platform for personalised health and social services. It is based
on the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
The International mICF partnership consisting of service
users, service providers, specialists in ICF and health
informatics are developing a user-friendly mobile application
to assist people at point of service delivery to be able
to enter what is important to them about their functioning
and context so that health services can respond more
appropriately. In the background ICF-related data (including
patient-reported outcomes) will be amalgamated.
Introduction
This will enable individualised, predictive service
provision by utilising big data models. mICF can be a
game changer in addressing health inequity by
facilitating the necessary institutional reform as well as the
transformation of health professions education by utilising
person-driven and person-owned data to optimise
individualised service provision and to strengthen systems
for health.
transforming health service
provider education1
person-centred approach1,2
implying a
competencies related to a
bio-psycho-social-spiritual inter-
professional approach incorporating
the complex interrelatedness of
changes in body functions and body
structures, functioning and fulfilling
life roles - all in the context of
barriers and facilitators of personal
and environmental factors
influencing health (including social
determinants of health)3,4
resulting in
holistic care, shared
decision-making and
patient-reported
outcomes4,5
creating the
opportunity for
reforming systems for health6
universal health coverage,
reducing institutionalised care and
focusing on preventative healthcare7,8
focus on community-based
practice1,6,7
interdependence in
health-education harmonisation,
breaking down silo's and professional
tribalism, embracing interprofessional
collaborative practice,
and decreasing power relations1,4,6
predictive health
care9
which requires through
to provide
ultimately resulting in
mobile technology utilising ICF
implying a
which is dependent on
obtained by utilising
made possible by
resulting in
BIG DATA9
PERSON-DRIVEN DATA4
Individualised service
provision in strengthened
systems for health
HEALTH
EQUITY
achieving
This mICF project is driven by the global priority to achieve
by by
This poster, presenting the rationale for mICF, is the first of a series of six posters presenting the progress made in the
development of this solution.
1. Frenk J, Chen L, Bhutta Z, Cohen J, Crisp N, Evans T, et al. Health professionals for a new century: Transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world. Lancet. 2010;376:1923–58.
2. Jason Frank ER, Snell LS, Sherbino J. The Draft CanMEDS 2015 Physician Competency Framework – Series IV. 2015. Available from:
http://www.royalcollege.ca/common/documents/canmeds/framework/canmeds2015_framework_series_IV_e.pdf
3. World Health Organization. A Practical Manual. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013.
4. World Health Organization. Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. 2010. Available from: http://www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/en/
5. Thistlethwaite JE, Forman D, Matthews LR, Rogers GD, Steketee C, Yassine T. Competencies and frameworks in interprofessional education: a comparative analysis. Acad Med [Internet]. 2014;89(6):869–75. Available from:
http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00001888-900000000-99110nhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24871237
6. World Health Organization. Transforming and scaling up health professionals’ education and training: World Health Organization guidelines 2013. 2013. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/93635
7. World Health Organization. Universal Health Coverage. 2015. Available from: http:/www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs395/en/
8. Mehl G, Labrique A. Prioritizing integrated mHealth strategies for universal health coverage. Science. 2014;345(6202):1284–7.
9. Caulfield BM, Donnelly SC. What is connected health and why will it change your practice? Q J Med. 2013;106(8):703–707.
References