Validating the Potential of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to Identify Barriers to and Facilitators of Consumer Participation

BACKGROUND: Occupational therapists need tools to identify barriers and facilitators to participation in societal roles. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) two-level classification for use in occupational therapy. METHODS: A secondary analysis of an existing dataset was conducted to identify participation barriers and facilitators that mapped to the ICF and those that did not. RESULTS: A broad range of factors was captured across the components of the ICF. Findings also revealed enabling and disabling factors that were not evident in the ICF. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The ICF can support the identification of a broad range of external barriers and facilitators relevant to participation and of interest to occupational therapy. However, therapists must use other strategies to gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature, extent and consequences of barriers and facilitators that may exist in a given