Impairments and disabilities in hand therapy: the necessity of a uniform terminology for communication and research purposes.
Uniformity in the use of professional language is very important in the field of medicine. Impairments and disabilities are terms that are often used interchangeably. To health professionals analyzing a patient's health problem, formulating treatment goals, or writing questionnaires and protocols, the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH) offers a conceptual framework that has a great potential to remedy improper use of terms and that can enhance communication. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to familiarize the hand therapist with the ICIDH and (2) to present some proposals for a revision of the ICIDH that will make the classification structurally more practical and thereby will facilitate its use.
Brandsma
J W
JW
Dutch National Institute for Research and Postgraduate Education in Physical Therapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
Heerkens
Y F
YF
van Ravensberg
C D
CD
D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D009626:Terminology as Topic