Using the ICF to develop patient treatment plans and to promote interdisciplinary teamwork

Introduction. A Health Affairs Interdisciplinary Case Conference (HAICC) was conducted in which health professions students from varying disciplines worked together in teams, using the ICF to assess a standardized patient (SP), establish a diagnosis and intervention, and promote awareness of each discipline's contributions. HAICC uses the ICF for holistic evaluation and teamwork skills.

Methods. Exactly 575 students from nine professional health programs were stratified into 70 groups, with relatively proportionate membership per group. The SPs were trained to portray a multiple trauma accident victim and to display verbal evidence of co-occurring depression, substance abuse, mobility limitations, and isolation from family/peer support. A faculty preceptor evaluated the group's teamwork skills at developing an appropriate treatment plan that addressed the four ICF domains.

Results. On quantified conditions, the groups were consistent with identification of conditions (p = .968). For barriers, 86% of groups identified energy and drive functions (b130), 81% alcohol and drug problems (e1101), 81% hematological system functions (b435), 81% low family and friend support (e310, e320), 71% pain (b280), and 62% mobility of joint functions (b710). There was no significant correlation between identification of this problem and group evaluation score (r = .064, p > .05).

Conclusions. The ICF served as a constructive instrument to promote teamwork among health professional students from varying disciplines. Various limitations of the exercise scenario, including time and complexity of the worksheet and low rating of barrier severity (33%), require modification to promote accuracy of data recording while preserving the dynamics of the group interaction.