The Biopsychosocial Approach - Essay Example

Biopsychosocial Order no: 175073 Premium - 6530 The Biopsychosocial approach: The Biopsychosocial Approach to Nursing emphasizes changes in the relationship between psychology and health issues during the person’s entire life span. Some of the topics using this approach are health care, health management, the effects of gender on health, stress and stress management, acute and chronic illness, and death. In this approach, there is a need to triangulate the “bio”, “psycho” and the “social” aspects of illness in order to obtain an optimal value in a patient–centered care.

This method adapts a holistic approach to health and health care. The Traditional Medical Model of Nursing: In this model, the patient is looked upon as a machine. At any time the parts of this machine are bound to have setbacks and break down. At this juncture, the traditional medical model is used to repair the dysfunction and bring the person back to health. In this system, the emphasis is on the physical aspect of the human being, and in accordance with this method, nurses and other health care practitioners devote themselves to acquiring knowledge in different subjects such as biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, sociology, and psychology.

Cancer of the cervix: The cervix is part of a woman’s reproductive system. The uterus which is a hollow pear-shaped organ tapers at the lower end into the abdomen. The cervix is the point that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cancer begins in cells which go to make up a tissue. Tissues make up organs in our bodies. Normally when old cells die new cells take their place. But sometimes new cells are formed but old cells do not die. These cells form a mass in the body which we call a tumor.

Tumors may be benign or malignant. It is the malignant tumors that are cancerous. If a tumor occurring in the cervix is malignant then the cervix is said to be cancerous. Influence on the patient having cancer: A woman in her thirties makes an appointment to see the doctor as she is suffering from bleeding and abdominal pain. The doctor performs necessary Pap tests and screening and concludes that she has cancer of the cervix. Psychological and Social aspects of the patient: The patient is at first shocked when she is informed of her illness.

She is given a lot of love and support from family members as well as from the medical staff. She has to make difficult decisions about her family, and her job, and how to compromise because of her condition. She is given a lot of encouragement from everyone to accept her illness. She is advised to take the support of a social worker who could help her cope with the disease and the effects of the treatment. Besides this, the social worker can give suggestions for arranging financial aid, transportation, home care, and emotional support.

She is advised to join a support group which is made up of members who have been cured of cancer or members who are still undergoing treatment and also their family members. These groups hold get–togethers or meetings where they lend advice, tips, or plain experience on how to handle their emotions. They also keep in touch by phone or through the Internet. The survival rate in the UK: For women diagnosed with cancer in the early stages, the survival rate is 70%, but only a fifth is diagnosed at this stage.

For women diagnosed with distant metastases, their survival rate of 5 years is around 15%, but only a third of women are diagnosed at this stage.