Medical Model and Social Model of Health - Essay Example

“Compare and Contrast Medical Model with Social Model of Health” Background The medical model of health gazes at person’s physical functioning and describes bad health and illness as the presence of disease and ill symptoms as a consequence of physical causes such as injury or infections and does not consider social and psychological factors. On the other hand the social model of health glances at how society and our environment affect our everyday health and well-being, including factors such as social class, poverty, poor housing, diet, pollution and income. Introduction Health is conventionally equated to the lack of disease. Absence of a primary pathology was a notion to define one's health as superior, whereas biologically driven pathogens and conditions would render an individual with poor health and the label "diseased". On the other hand, such a slim range on health limited our indulgence of wellbeing, thwarted our treatments efforts, and perhaps more importantly, suppressed preventive measures (The Bio-psychosocial model of Health and Illness). It is apparent that many institutions and medical physicians have handled to integrate a holistic view of health in sound medical application, primarily based on the Bio-psychosocial (BPS) Model of Health and Illness. The impression of well being is predominantly stressed, where the state of being in good health is based on the bio-psychosocial model is escorted by high-quality of life and strong relationships (The Bio-psychosocial model of Health and Illness). American Psychiatrist George Engel (1977) launched the major theory in medicine, the BPS Model. The model explains biological, psychological, and sociological interconnected gamut, each as systems of the body. In fact, the model accompanied a dramatic shift in focus from disease to health, recognizing that psychosocial factors (e.g. beliefs, relationships, stress) greatly impact recovery the progression of and recuperation from illness and disease (Marshall). In the present scenario, persons are thriving with diseases which were dreaded in the past. It is observed that health and wellness is a broader forum and therefore physicians are often accepting the bio-psychosocial structure in their clinical practice (The Bio-psychosocial model of Health and Illness). Medical model It is the term cited by psychiatrist Ronald D. Laing in his The Politics of the Family and Other Essays (1971), for the "set of procedures in which all doctors are trained." It encompasses complaint, history, physical examination, ancillary tests if needed, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis with and without treatment. The medical model is an approach to pathology that aims to find medical treatments for diagnosed symptoms and syndromes and treats the human body as a very complex mechanism (The medical model is dead - long live the medical model). (Medical model vs. Social model) The medical model drives research and theorizing about physical or psychological difficulties on the basis of causation and remediation (Medical model vs. Social model). Medical model is based on assessments of impairments from a deficit point of view against normality: what one cannot do, instead of what one can do. This has been called 'medical model' (or 'individual model'). It is manifested and proved that medical science is playing the imperative role in keeping many disabled people alive, and reducing their pain and discomfort (Medical model vs. Social model). The 'medical model' perceives disabled people as the problem and follows specific investigation to root out the disease. The medical model emphasize on reliance, supported by the stereotypes of disability that bring out pity, fear and patronizing attitudes. The main focus is on the impairment or the disease and the patient is in the hands of physician (Medical model vs. Social model). Medical model encompasses medical thinking viz. child is faulty in case of mental illness, followed by diagnosis, labeling, focus is on impairment, assessment and monitoring programs of therapy imposed, segregation and alternative services, what are the ordinary needs that are put on hold. In medical model thinking there is always the place of re-entry or permanent exclusion (Medical model vs. Social model). It can be contrasted with the holistic model of the alternative health movement and the social model of the disability rights movement, as well as to biopsychosocial and recovery models of mental disorders which is based on the fact that every child is to be valued and patient must define the strengths and needs by self and others. It identifies barriers and develops solutions. It designs the program based on outcomes. It encompasses training for parents and professionals. It nurtures the relationship in contrast to the medical model where there is not such nurturing of relationship. In social model thinking, diversity is welcomed and child is included and this model involves the entire society (Medical model vs. Social model). It is therefore, Medical model is a representation, diagnosis, and treatment used by physicians who follow the biomedical scenario. The distinctiveness of the medical model encompass framework of assumptions reinforcement of the relationship between doctor and patient. According to Erving Goffman (1961), medical model as a particular version of a more general ‘tinkering services’ model that assumes a technically expert server and an individual client with an object in need of repair. In medicine the object is the body, and Goffman explored the special characteristics of this ‘medical servicing’ relationship (Marshall). In general, the term medical model refers to medicine's ideas and assumptions about the kind of illness, notably its natural scientific framework and its focus on physical causes and physical treatments. It is manifested that physicians do not spotlight entirely on physical factors, even in relation to physical illness. It is therefore, ‘bio-medical model’ is preferred as it highlights the biological aspects of illness (Marshall). According to Medical Model: Reason for visit: Complains of chest pain. Presentation: The center of attention is on physical causes of disease. The physician asks few questions on recent diet, pain history, and familial incidence, however, empirical signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction are considered paramount. Diagnosis: The clinician will order objective lab tests and monitor vital signs (i.e. temperature, pulse, and blood pressure) based on this findings investigation is done. Therapy: Prescription of medicines and pathogenesis (The Bio-psychosocial model of Health and Illness). Bio-psychosocial Model Another approach for understanding health and illness, used by some physicians and preferred in nursing circles for its greater span, is a ‘bio-psycho-social model’ encompassing the biological, psychological, and social aspects (The Bio-psychosocial model of Health and Illness). (Medical model vs. Social model) The 'social model' defines 'impairment' and 'disability' as very different things: "Impairment is the loss or limitation of physical, mental or sensory function on a long-term or permanent basis (Medical model vs. Social model). Those who advocate social model state that the disability is socially created and has little to do with their impairments and this is regardless of the type or rigorousness of their impairments, disabled people focus to a widespread domination by the non-disabled world. These patients are made to think that it is because of their own fault. It develops fear, ignorance and prejudice, barriers and discrimination (Medical model vs. Social model). The 'social model' approach believes in changing the outlook and in changing society. Unlike medically-based cures, this is an achievable goal and benefits everyone (Medical model vs. Social model). It encompasses a worldwide sense, mostly created by war, hunger, lack of clean water, exploitation of labour, lack of safety, and child abuse and therefore now adopted by WHO (Medical model vs. Social model). If the same patient is observed by Social model: Reason for visit: Patient complains of chest pain. Presentation: The aim to ascertain psychosocial and physical processes that may cause the chief complain chest pain. The physician may ask for a history of recent life stressors and behaviors. Diagnosis: Based on a combination of psychological factors and standard lab tests, the clinician will form a diagnosis. Therapy: The physician discusses the available interventions with special attention to behaviors and lifestyles that could influence her pain and adherence to the treatment plan. The patient is involved in formulating and implementing the plan, and maintains a supportive relationship with the clinician (The Biopsychosocial model of Health and Illness). Medical model is more beneficial to treat majority of the ailments where symptomatic treatment can be made but for the disabilities and those related to mental illness are more inclined for the social model for assistance. Thus, biomedical model deals with the winning strategy for the struggle against a large number of diseases in particular with the infectious ones, but the human race is facing other health issues like degenerative diseases, malignant diseases and psychosomatic disorders which are difficult to treat and impossible to prevent. Therefore major health problems of today cannot be resolved within conventional framework of biomedical model. References 1. Marshall, G., "Medical Model." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. Available on http://www.encyclopedia.com [Accessed on 26th August 2009]. 2. The Biopsychosocial model of Health and Illness. Available on http://cnx.org/content/m13589/latest/ [Accessed on 26th August 2009]. 3. The medical model is dead - long live the medical model. British Journal of Psychiatry 2007, (191), pp 375-377 4. Medical Model vs. Social Model. Available on http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/disability/thinking/medical.html [Accessed on 26th August 2009]. Read More