Kontakt 2011, 13(1):54-64 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2011.008

Practical use of the International Classification of Functional Capacities, Disability and HealthHealth and Social Sciences - Original article

Hana Matlasová

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra klinických oborů

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmunity and demyelinization disease of the nervous system. The disease causes disability and brings severe physical, mental, social, occupational and economical consequences. A further big problem in patients with multiple sclerosis is their ability to work. The determination of multiple sclerosis still does not mean unavoidable disability. The patients are able to work (provided that certain conditions are adhered to: for example to avoid work at high temperatures, in sunshine, at elevated sites, providing more frequent breaks, etc.). We speak about disability if a disorder, which may be functional or morphological, at a level of an organ or of the whole system, starts limiting the patient in a certain way in his/her everyday activities. The target of the research examination was a practical use of the MKF (International Classification of Functional Capacities, Disability and Health) in the assessment of the health and social situation of rehabilitating patients with multiple sclerosis (based on their disability). The assessment of their health and social condition according to the classification was implemented in 2008.
For the data accumulation technique by qualitative examination, a semi-standardized interview (worker of a multidisciplinary team - rehabilitating patient) was employed, which was recorded into a sheet of the MKF, so called CORE SET for multiple sclerosis. In the CORE SET, factors of environment (e), activity and participation (d) were evaluated within the framework of the research.
The results in the chapter Environmental factors indicate that the highest barriers for the rehabilitating patients with multiple sclerosis are, for example effects of the light, climate change and sound. Facilitating factors are first of all the family and friends, products or materials for personal use (medicines, vitamins, etc.), persons providing the care and personal assistance, and last but not least, also materials and products making possible the outdoor or indoor mobility (compensatory tools for walking). In the chapter Activity and participation, the performance and capacity in particular activities were evaluated (according to MKF manual). The results indicate that there is the largest disproportion between the performance and capacity in familial and formal relationships (by 0.15 unit of the qualifier), economic sufficiency (by 0.10 unit of the qualifier), learning to read (by 0.50 unit of the qualifier) and write (by 0.45 unit of the qualifier), intimate relationships (by 0.35 unit of the qualifier) and in the field of taking care for oneself and self-sufficiency.
In the discussion, the author emphasizes that this is one of the first results of the chronic disease evaluation with the use of the MKF classification in the Czech Republic. The data obtained may be employed for the use of the MKF in the assessment of the disability of persons with multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis; International Classification of Functional Capacities Disability and Health; environmental factors; activities and participation

Received: June 12, 2010; Accepted: January 6, 2011; Published: March 28, 2011  Show citation