VIEWS ON HEALTH Models Health Experts Biomedical Model

VIEWS ON HEALTH Models/ Health Experts

Biomedical Model

Biomedical model Started 19 th century Most common Scientific- human anatomy Pathology, biochemistry, physiology Effective for short term or acute illness Does not look at general society as a whole, only individuals Increased life expectancy

Social Model

Social Model Reaction to medical model but realises that there, environmental, social, cultural and individual lifestyle factors. More over there are barriers to these = barriers to health Focuses more then just a cure, but the origins of the illness and moving patients away from defined diseases Gives more choice to individuals in their health options

Social Model Social model linked to lay model (people have firm beliefs about their own health- so again, gives more choices to those then the biomedical model would/ less conflict with physician) Contributed most to decline in mortality Realizes there are differences between individuals and social groups and that they are complex with a mixture of behavioural, structural, material and cultural factors

What the people want? A recent health convention (Citizens Summit) the following was reported back as said by the people: “People want to keep themselves well, and take control of their own health. This came through clearly in our consultation. People asked for more help to do this, through better information, advice and support. In particular, people strongly supported the idea of regular check-ups as a way of helping them to look after themselves, and reduce demand on conventional health and care services. Avoidable illness matters to individuals and their families but it also matters to society and the economy. We all bear the costs of days lost at work and expenditure on avoidable care. Regular check-ups was voted the top 'people's priority' at the national Citizens' Summit. ”

What do Health Professionals Say? That there is clear evidence that simply offering routine physical checks, such as cholesterol testing, to everyone in the population is not an effective way of identifying people at risk of disease and ill-health, nor would it be a good use of the considerable resources which would have to go into developing such a global screening programme.

So what is the result? The best way of empowering people to take charge of their own health and well-being is to focus on the major risk factors that may affect their health: Higher obesity rates are predicted to lead to a rise in strokes, heart attacks and Type 2 diabetes. Only 37 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women are achieving recommended physical activity targets. Rates of obesity are rising steadily. Smoking is the single greatest cause of illness and premature death in England today, killing an estimated 86, 500 people a year, accounting for a third of all cancers and a seventh of cardiovascular disease. A significant proportion of the population still smokes. Smoking disproportionately affects the least well-off. Some 31 per cent of manual groups smoke, compared with 20 per cent in non-manual groups.

So what is the result? Between 15, 000 and 22, 000 deaths and 150, 000 hospital admissions each year are associated with alcohol misuse. A significant proportion of the population drinks more than the maximum recommended weekly amounts (14 units for women and 21 units for men) and many young people are taking increased risks by binge drinking. Mental illness and stress-related conditions are now the most common cause of sickness absence and are a common cause of social exclusion among older people. One in four consultations with a GP concern mental health problems. Sexually transmitted infections continue to rise. Up to one in ten young people aged under 25 may be infected with chlamydia, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

Task 1 (A 01) assignment #3 Compare and contrast the biomedical and social models � What is it? � What members of the health care profession say? (bio) � Who is it aimed at? (social) � What is your take on this models accuracy and effectiveness?

Task 1 (A 01) assignment #4 Explain how health experts have tried to get people to look after their own health Questions to answer: Why do individuals often fail to conform to health education advice? � � Relate this to lifestyle factors Relate this to the four roles of Baldock and Ungersons model What have they done to show dangers to the public and why do people still not pay attention even if its for their own good? � � Relate this to the different approaches to health promotion (5) Relate this to the health promotion service in a school setting example