Linking of the ‘Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen in die Arbeitswelt’ (IMBA) to the ‘International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health’ (ICF)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hennaert, S.^{a; *} | Decuman, S.^{b; c} | Désiron, H.^{d; e; f} | Alles, T.^g | Bühne, D.^g | Braeckman, L.^h | De Baets, S.ⁱ | Van de Velde, D.ⁱ

Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | [b] Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | [c] Department of Research and Quality, National Institute of Health and Disability Insurance, Brussels, Belgium | [d] Faculty Biomedical Sciences, University Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium | [e] Scientific collaborator at Hogeschool PXL, Hasselt, Belgium | [f] CEO, ACT Désiron, Hasselt, Belgium | [g] Institute for Quality Assurance in Prevention and Rehabilitation, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany | [h] Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | [i] Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: S. Hennaert, GTB (Vocational Rehabilitation Service - Flanders), Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. E-mail: stien.hennaert@ugent.be; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6201-8730.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The assessment of work capacity, workable work and the need for a common language is challenging in labour market policy. Being a specific instrument to facilitate Return To Work (RTW), the Integration von Menschen mit Behinderungen in die Arbeitswelt (IMBA) might facilitate the documentation of the individual’s work capacity, the job-related workload and the match between these two elements. Since the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is worldwide recognized as frame of reference in RTW, this paper presents the linking of IMBA to the ICF, since this is assumed to be beneficial to support RTW. OBJECTIVE:The establishment of the IMBA-ICF linking in order to study 1) the relationship between IMBA and ICF; 2) the content comparison of IMBA with work-related ICF core sets; and 3) the extent to which the linking addresses the challenges in RTW policy. METHODS:A content comparison of IMBA and ICF was conducted, using a 7- step linking methodology in which the Delphi and Nominal Group Technique are integrated in the implementation of the ICF linking rules. An explorative conversion of the scoring systems of IMBA and ICF was established based on expert opinions. RESULTS:In the main 70 IMBA items, 107 concepts have been identified of which 94 were linked to 87 different ICF categories. Body functions and activities and participation are the most presented ICF components in contrast to the environmental factors. IMBA items regarding occupational safety and work organization are respectively ‘not covered’ and ‘not defined’ in ICF. CONCLUSIONS:An integration of IMBA and ICF addresses the challenges in RTW policy in the assessment of work capacity, workable work and the need for a common language. In order to do so, extension of ICF terminology regarding ‘occupational safety’ and ‘work organization’ is priority. In depth quantitative research is necessary to support the conversion of both scoring systems.

Keywords: Disability evaluation, vocational rehabilitation, return to work, international classification of functioning, disability and health, IMBA, linking rules

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210257

Journal: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1359-1380, 2022