Comparison between the Medical and Social Models of Health - Essay Example

Comparison Between the Medical and Social Models of Health Introduction According to WHO (1946) "health is a of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." However, several researchers have argued the completeness of this definition and thus several other definitions and models of health have come up like the medical model, social model, public health model, wellness model, etc. In this essay, 2 important models of health, the medical model and social model will be discussed. Medical model is a very primitive model of health and is considered as the most traditional model of health and illness. The concept of social model of health is much advanced than the medical model and is currently being used in the field of medicine, nursing, sociology, health psychology, psychiatry, clinical social work and chiropractic medicine. Comparison between the two models According to the medical model of health, physical illness is caused by a particular "pathogen" or disease causing organism (Curtis, p.48). The pathogens cause the disease because of which some physical changes occur within the body. The causative factors are not only organisms but some chemical imbalances and genetic predisposition. According to the social model which is commonly known as the biopsychosocial model, illness is caused due to an interplay of a multitude of factors and that most of the times illness results from an interplay of biological factors like pathogens, psychological factors like beliefs and behaviors and social factors like economic status and employment. This model of health was developed by Engel in the 1970s. The psycho aspects of health which this model proposed were cognitions like expectations of health, certain emotions like fear of treatment and important health-related behaviors like consumption of alcohol, smoking, diet and exercise (Curtis, p.53). Emotional turmoil, lack of self-control and negative thinking have been incriminated in the development of disease. The social aspects of health which this model proposed were social drinking, peer group pressure and expectations, social values of health, ethnicity, parental pressure and expectations and social class. The social model of health is basically based on the social cognitive theory (Curtis, p.55). The medical model perceives illness as beyond the control of the individual and thus individuals are not responsible for the illness. Here patients are regarded as victims of external force that causes changes in the internal aspects of the patients. But the social model perceives illness as a combination of several factors, wherein individuals have control over the factors to some extent and thus are not simple passive victims of the disease process (Curtis, p.58). Treatments instituted through the medical model are mainly aimed at the causative factors. Since "definite" causative factors are identified, even prevention in the form of vaccination is possible. But in the social model, the whole person is treated rather that the causative organism and physical changes. Other than medications, the treatment can comprise of behavioral changes like encouraging changes in lifestyle and beliefs, advising coping strategies and changes in dietary habits. The philosophy of the model projects that mind and body influence each other. While attributes of mind can influence the development of the disease, changes in the body can influence mind (Curtis, p.59). For example, emotional stress, lifestyle habits and lack of exercise can cause diabetes along with genetic predisposition. This is according to the biophysical model. However, according to the biomedical model, diabetes is mainly caused by genetic predisposition. While psychological stress and social factors influence the development of diabetes (social model), when a patient gets the diagnosis of diabetes, he goes through a great deal of psychological stress and changes his eating habits (Bruna and Disorbio, p.45). According to DiMatteo, Haskard and Williams (p.522), "patient perceptions of health and threat of disease, as well as barriers in a patients social or cultural environment, appear to influence the likelihood that a patient will engage in health-promoting or treatment behaviors, such as medication taking, proper diet, and engaging in physical activity." In the medical model, the responsibility of treatments vests with the treating physician. Once the patient meets the physician for various symptoms and physical changes, the burden of identifying the causative factor and institution of appropriate treatment vests with the physician. However, in the social model, even the patient is responsible for treatment. The patient is not treated a just a victim and is vested upon the responsibility of taking appropriate medication that has been prescribed and also to change behaviors and beliefs which have led to the disease and may continue to cause the disease (Wade and Halligan, p.1398). Health and illness are considered as qualitatively different aspects in the medical model. An individual is either healthy or ill, there is no continuum between the two aspects. Whereas in the social model, there does exist a continuum between the two states. According to the medical model, mind and body are different and mind cannot influence body (McLaren, p.701) Thus mind is not responsible for physical symptoms. Mind is just an abstract and constitutes of feelings and thought. However, the social model considers that health is a result of interaction between mind and body and thus any treatment instituted must have a holistic approach (Curtis, p.55). As far as the role of psychology in the development of illness is considered, the medical model considers that there are no psychological causes of illness and that illness may only have psychological consequences. However, the social model considers psychological factors as a part of etiology of disease process. Conclusion The medical model considers patient to be a victim of the disease process caused by a definite factor. Thus treatment is aimed at removing the causing factor and bringing down the physical ailments. The burden of identification of the disease and treatment vests with the physician. The social model considers disease process as an interplay between factors other than "just causative organisms" like psychological factors, behavior and social aspects. Thus treatment is mainly through holistic approach of management. The responsibility of the treatment is vested on both the physician and the patient. The patient is treated not as just a "victim" and has an active role in his health and illness. Works Cited Page Curtis. AJ. “Health Psychology” 2000. London: Routledge. DiMatteo, MR., Haskard, KB., & Williams, S.L. “Health beliefs, disease severity, and patient adherence: A meta-analysis.” Medical Care 2007; 45, 521-528 McLaren, N. “The myth of the biopsychosocial model.” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2002; 36 (5), 701–703 Bruns, D, and Disorbio, JM. “Chronic Pain and Biopsychosocial Disorders.” Practical Pain Management 2006; 6, 45- 47. Wade, DT, and Halligan, PW. “Do biomedical models of illness make for good healthcare systems? Education and Debate.” British Medical Journal 2004; 329, 1398- 1401. WHO. (1946). WHO definition of Health. 4th December 2010 Read More