Integrating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in the geriatric minimum data SET-25 (GMDS-25) for intervention studies in older people

Since the number of older people is rising worldwide, there is an increasing need for a structured and integrated approach for the participation of the older person in clinical research. The introduction of a 'Geriatric Minimum Data Set' (GMDS) will allow a standardized description of the older person participating in clinical research. ICF, a universal tool for the comprehensive description of human functioning, developed by the World Health Organisation, can make a substantial contribution to the development of a GMDS. It can serve as a 'framework', including all the functional characteristics needed in research in Gerontology and Geriatrics. The objective was to integrate ICF terminology in a recently proposed GMDS-25. ICF is explored to determine the most relevant ICF-categories for GMDS-25. Several items of the GMDS-25 can be described in terms of ICF. This description contributes to the optimal standardization of the GMDS-25.