In this series of videos, we will discuss the importance of the International Classification of disease system. With relation to the ability to code diseases and collect reliable data that can be used to enable statistical and machine learning methods. We're going to see the role of the World Health Organization in providing international standards that are well accepted and followed. Later on, we're going to see how the International Classification of disease system is used within unit three. To provide important information about the patient diagnosis. The World Health Organization is an agency that works on behalf of 194 member states. The aim of the organization is to promote the best standards in health for all people, regardless social and economic condition. As well as regardless of race, gender, religion and political beliefs. The main principle behind the organization work, is that access to affordable and articulate healthcare is a human right. For this reason, it promotes the fusion of universal health coverage. And it tries to protect humans from health emergencies. Currently, half of the world's population does not have access to essential health services. Here I show you a conceptual framework of the health system and factors influencing health. This overview the scope of the organization. There are several determinants that influence human health. This can be biomedical and genetic factors. Health behaviors, socioeconomic factors and environmental factors. The organization recognize that we need to have common metrics to measure health and wellbeing. And some of those metrics are related to life expectancy, as well as mortality. Other metrics are subjective, and it depends of how well the person feelings. Disability, as well as illness and comorbidity are also measures of health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation aims to coordinate action among the member states, in order to intervene and improve health globally. There is a number of resources and systems that can help towards this direction. This involve research and evaluation as well as monitoring. And it also demands new technology, in order to be able to address universal problems. In order to achieve the same, it is required to collect data from patients and use it. And this data will be analyzed from researchers, statisticians and clinicians to estimate indices of health and wellbeing. Technological and machine learning advances can promote healthcare and narrow the gap between rich and poor countries. As we are going to see in more details, in order to collect data that can be compared across different locations and times. We need to have common notations and definitions. For this reason, the World Health Organization maintains a family of international classification schemes. In other words, there is a set of integrated classifications that provide a common language for health information across the world. The International Classification of Diseases, is the international standard diagnostic tool. For epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes. In this series of videos, we're going to focus on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. There is a number of further classifications which belong to the family of classifications used by the World Health Organization. And these are the International Classification of functioning disability and health. As well as the International Classification of health interventions. The key point is that these classifications have achieved broad acceptance. And there is an officially agreement for use. They're approved and recommended as quiet lines for international reporting on health. The International Classification of Diseases, have been designed with the aim to describe various aspects of the health and the health systems in a consistent manner. In this way, it helps the development of reliable statistical systems at local, national and international levels. With the aim of improving status and health care. In practice, this process is used to translate diagnosis of diseases and other health problems from words into an alphanumeric code. The usage of the International Classification of Disease system. Provides a systematic way for storage, retrieval and analysis of the data. Also comparison of morbidity and mortality data between hospitals. As we said, both in a national and international level and it also comparison of morbidity and mortality data across time. The ultimate goal is to improve health through provision of sound health information that can support decision making. I should highlight that the International Classification of the C system has been developed collaboratively. Between the World Health Organization and several international centers. And the aim was at the Medical terms report by physicians, medical exams. As well as information in death certificates, can be grouped together for statistical purposes. In other words, this system facilitates the storage, retrieval, analysis and interpretation of data. And their comparison within population over time and between populations at the same point in time. As well as at the compilation of international consistent data. Populations may be nations, states and territories, regions, minority groups or other specified groups. The fact that these codes are accepted internationally is important. Because it provides us with the ability to assess the inter rater reliability and test retest reliability in coding. Also there are supported by instruction manuals coding indices, tabular lists, handbooks and training. The first type of users exposed in these classifications is it clinic and it includes physician nurses and health workers. They integrate this information and they used it to support decision making for their patients. The second type of users are in administration and this can be health information managers, policymakers, insurers and national health program managers. That they want to have more information about saying the resources needed to provide adequate health care. These data are also of paramount importance for population, health and epidemiology as well as research. They allow quantifying disability, diseases and risk factors in a global level. And they enable research in decision support system, based on artificial intelligence. For the sake of generality, we should point out that apart from the main classifications, which here they refered as reference classifications. There are also the latest classifications and the derived classifications. The derived classifications are based on the reference classifications and they're consistent with them. The aim is to provide more specialized information. In fact, they provide speciality based adaptation which can relate. For example, to oncology or to mental and behavioral disorders and so on. The related classifications on the other hand, they describe important aspects of health. Or the health system that are not covered by reference or derived classifications. Few examples are the classification of external causes of injury, or the classification relates to the medication and the doses. Summarizing, the International Classification of Diseases is one of the oldest and most important classification in medicine. It enables the optimal application of computer technology in the processing and retrieval of clinical information. Importantly, it is recognized internationally. Which enables sound statistical comparison of data, from different regions in different times.
