Employee´s awareness of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and

Health (ICF) at the Oulu University Hospital

First International Symposium: ICF education, 5.6.2015 THL, Helsinki, Finland

15.04.2023

The Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District: Oulu university hospital delivers specialized health care to the Northern Ostrobothnia & entire northern Finland

Authors:

Essi Xiong, BsC (OT), Master of Rehabilitation, Dep. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital

Ulla Jämsä, Rehabilitation Coordinator, PhD in Health Sciences, Dep. of Medical Rehabilitation,Oulu University Hospital

Arja Veijola, Principal Lecturer, PhD in Health Sciences, Oulu University of Applied Sciences

THE ACTION RESEARCH PROCESS

“Learning together”

This research is part of the interprofessional ICF education process of Oulu University Hospital in 2014-2016

The purpose of the phase 1 study:1. to describe and analyze the state of the ICF expertise of employees

2. to identify most appropriate learning methods and tools to understand and use the ICF

3. to guide the ICF implementation process

Research questions were:

1) What kind of awareness and experience do the employees have about the ICF?

2) What kind of training of ICF employees themselves consider to need?

DataData was collected by means of a questionnaire developed especially for this purpose

Answers were given by employees (n=98). The response percentage was estimated about 50%.

The data was analyzed using the SPSS Statistics tool (descriptive methods) and the open ended questions were analysed by content analysis.

Results:

No one reported having maximal awareness of the ICF (scale 1-10).Mean value 3, sd. 2.0

Participants didn´t have experience how to use ICF in practice but almost everyone had some kind of training of ICF. No statistical difference between short/long education was found.

According to the results there is interest and need of learning about ICF and to take it into daily practices.

The employees described that implementation process will require multiprofessional team learning of ICF-theory and workshops about ICF-practices.

The employees expected the support and commitment from management during the learning process.

Conclutions:

The results strengthen the view that the process will be carried out by communal methods and multiprofessionally.

Implementation will start mainly from the basic level consisting of the frameworks background theory, principles, values and tools.

Challenge for the implementation is to find suitable arena’s and space to support reflective learning situations.

To be continued…..

Thank you for Your attention!

Contact information: essi.xiong@ppshp.fi