UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Measuring oral health—How can the International Classification of Functioning help?

Faulks, D; Scambler, S; Daly, B; Jamieson, L; Hennequin, M; Tsakos, G; (2022) Measuring oral health—How can the International Classification of Functioning help? Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 10.1111/cdoe.12732. (In press). Green open access

[thumbnail of Tsakos_2nd revision tracked changes 30th Dec GT.pdf]
Preview
Text
Tsakos_2nd revision tracked changes 30th Dec GT.pdf

Download (315kB) | Preview

Abstract

There is a need for a theoretically informed, contextualized approach to measuring oral health from a multidisciplinary perspective that goes beyond the commonly used clinical indices and sociodental measures. This commentary aims to discuss the potential for the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to provide a model for the development of indicators for oral health. It is suggested that the ICF might provide both a theoretical model and an operational classification for indicators of oral health. The ICF model states that human experience of physical, cognitive and social functioning is universal and, thus, can be described and qualified. Human function is given social and environmental context within the model at both an individual and population level. The ICF can not only capture data regarding oral health and function at the physiological level (e.g. chewing) but also at the social level (e.g. sharing meals). It is able not only to capture aspects of preventive behaviour (e.g. caring for teeth) but also aspects of social facilitation (e.g. economic self-sufficiency) or ability to fulfil a social role (e.g. remunerative employment). It also includes aspects of social environment, such as healthcare services or political, economic and legal systems. Case studies are given as examples of the potential use of the ICF in the oral health domain. Examples are also given of the first steps that have been made towards operationalization of the ICF in data collection and oral health research. The challenges of encompassing such a comprehensive model into a practical oral health measure are discussed.

Type: Article
Title: Measuring oral health—How can the International Classification of Functioning help?
Location: Denmark
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12732
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12732
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Disability and Health, International Classification of Functioning, health status indicators, oral health
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Epidemiology and Public Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10143841
Downloads since deposit
193Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item