Functioning

An individual's functioning in a specific domain is an interaction or complex relationship between health conditions and environmental and personal factors.

Functioning and disability are dual concepts in a broad framework, with disability focussing on the more negative aspects of this interaction.

World Health Organization (WHO) 2001. ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Geneva: WHO

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2003. ICF Australian User Guide Version 1.0. Canberra: AIHW

This glossary term is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The ICF was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2001 as a reference member of the WHO Family of International Classifications and of the Australian Family of Health and Related Classifications (endorsed by the National Health Information Management Group in 2002).

The ICF provides a framework for the description of human functioning and disability. The components of ICF are defined in relation to a health condition. A health condition is an ‘umbrella term for disease (acute or chronic), disorder, injury or trauma’ (WHO 2001). A health condition may be recorded, for example, as Episode of care principal diagnosis, code (ICD-10-AM 3rd edn) ANN{.N[N]} and Episode of care additional diagnosis, code (ICD-10-AM 3rd edn) ANN{.N[N]}.