This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Post, M. W. Articles by Schrijvers, A. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Post, M. W. Articles by Schrijvers, A. J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Quality of life and the ICIDH: towards an integrated conceptual model for rehabilitation outcomes research

Utrecht University, Julius Centre for Patient-Oriented Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Luc P de Witte

Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Augustinus JP Schrijvers

Utrecht University, Julius Centre for Patient-Oriented Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Objective: The development of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) has led to the assessment of a wider range of relevant rehabilitation outcomes, but a need for a further broadening exists. In this article, a new proposal for an extended ICIDH is made.

Method: Review of the literature on quality of life and of attempts to integrate the World Health Organization (WHO) biopsychosocial model and the ICIDH.

Results: Our review shows three operationalizations of the concept of quality of life: as health, as well-being and, preferably, as a superordinate construct. None of the attempts to integrate the WHO biopsychosocial model have been entirely successful. Our new proposal is characterized by (a) incorporation of the organ, person and social levels of the ICIDH, (b) distinction between objective and subjective aspects of quality of life as a second axis in the model, resulting in somatic sensations as the subjective part of the organ level, perceived health as the subjective part of the person level and domainspecific life satisfaction as the subjective part of the social level, and (c) separation of the concept of general well-being or happiness as being distinct from the ICIDH. The proposal model is intended to serve as a framework in which different outcomes can be positioned in relation to each other.

Conclusion: Our model is intuitively appealing and remains close to familiar concepts and models. However, it is as yet far from perfect, and we hope to provoke discussion to help further refinement.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. N. Budh and A.-L. Osteraker Life satisfaction in individuals with a spinal cord injury and pain Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 2007; 21(1): 89 - 96. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. T Wade and P. W Halligan Do biomedical models of illness make for good healthcare systems? BMJ, December 11, 2004; 329(7479): 1398 - 1401. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C McKevitt, J Redfern, V La-Placa, and C D. Wolfe Defining and using quality of life: a survey of health care professionals Clinical Rehabilitation, August 1, 2003; 17(8): 865 - 870. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. T Wade and P. Halligan New wine in old bottles: the WHO ICF as an explanatory model of human behaviour Clinical Rehabilitation, April 1, 2003; 17(4): 349 - 354. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. S. Lawrence, C. Coshall, R. Dundas, J. Stewart, A. G. Rudd, R. Howard, and C. D. A. Wolfe Estimates of the Prevalence of Acute Stroke Impairments and Disability in a Multiethnic Population Stroke, June 1, 2001; 32(6): 1279 - 1284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Duncan, H. S. Jorgensen, and D. T. Wade Outcome Measures in Acute Stroke Trials : A Systematic Review and Some Recommendations to Improve Practice Stroke, June 1, 2000; 31(6): 1429 - 1438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. T Wade and B. A de Jong Recent advances: Recent advances in rehabilitation BMJ, May 20, 2000; 320(7246): 1385 - 1388. [Full Text]