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The World Health Organization Model of Health: What Evidence Is Needed?

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Handbook of Qualitative Health Research for Evidence-Based Practice

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW,volume 4))

Abstract

Within this chapter, and consistent with the fundamental questions addressed throughout this text, we will explore how the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) conceptual framework of health as presented in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF; WHO, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: ICF. Author, Geneva, Switzerland, 2001) can help target types of evidences in healthcare interventions. This chapter will discuss the various models that were considered in the development of the biopsychosocial framework of the ICF. In that discussion, we will examine how research on the ICF has developed since its publication and the contributions of qualitative research methods to the ICF. It will be argued that qualitative research will be necessary for the ICF to reach its highest aspirations of viewing functional health status holistically, including input from the persons with disabilities and their families. We will begin our discussion with historical models of healthcare provision, as they relate to the development of the WHO’s model of health as described by the ICF’s conceptual framework.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education and Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    David B. Peterson Ph.D.

  2. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Travis T. Threats CCC-SLP, Ph.D.

Authors
  1. David B. Peterson Ph.D.
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  2. Travis T. Threats CCC-SLP, Ph.D.
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Correspondence to David B. Peterson Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Karin Olson

  2. Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Richard A. Young

  3. Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Izabela Z. Schultz

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Peterson, D.B., Threats, T.T. (2016). The World Health Organization Model of Health: What Evidence Is Needed?. In: Olson, K., Young, R., Schultz, I. (eds) Handbook of Qualitative Health Research for Evidence-Based Practice. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability, vol 4. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2920-7_5

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