[Why does evidence-based medicine need the international classification of functioning, disability, and health?].
OBJECTIVE
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) aims at finding the currently best answer to the questions raised by a patient's disease through rationally comparing different diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives.
As a rational method, EBM also needs a rational reference system. ICF, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, officially translated into German in 2004, is such a reference system.
ICF, a supplementary classification to ICD, consists of the four components: body functions and body structures, activities and participation, environmental factors, and personal factors (not yet classified). ICF describes the interdependence between all the factors influencing health as well as disease. For EBM, ICF can serve as a reference system: when defining a therapy's goal and examining whether it was reached, for including and excluding criteria of target groups, checking whether control and intervention groups are comparable, finding out relevant prognostic factors, defining the requirement of an intervention, applying assessments, or grouping people with similar need of help for payment.
Nüchtern
Elisabeth
E
MDK Baden-Württemberg Hauptverwaltung Lahr, Referat Rehabilitation/Heilmittel, Ahornweg 2, 77933 Lahr. elisabeth.nuechtern@mdkbw.de
Mohrmann
Matthias
M
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009626:Terminology as Topic