Biomedical and Psychosocial Models of Care - Essay Example

Biomedical and Psychosocial Models of Care Name Institution Abstract Health care providers require models of care to offer quality care for all clients equitably. Models of care are founded on theories formulated to offer a guideline when handling patients. Mental illnesses are on the increase and effective measures are required to handle patients suffering for these disorders. Models of care tend to be biased due to their founders’ values and beliefs that lead to assumptions. This paper compares and contrasts biomedical and psychosocial rehabilitation models of care. From this comparison, this essay aims at highlighting the strengths and limitations of the biomedical and psychosocial models of care. A conclusive conclusion is presented to assist health care providers come up with an effective approach to tackle mental disorders. Keywords: Biomedical, Psychosocial rehabilitation. Introduction Contemporary models of care have evolved in order to address all aspects of an individual. The family and society influence a person’s behaviour and total wellbeing (Stainton et al 2011). Models of care provide an outline that guides health professionals to handle clients and offer quality care. Though models of care are founded on comprehensive theories, assumptions and values of the founder can be implicated in them. Modern-day health care providers are no longer predominantly disease oriented but health oriented. Nursing process entails assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. Models of care ought to provide a framework that is applicable in all the nursing processes. Nursing process is used by healthcare providers in healthcare system as well as home based settings (Doenges and Moonhouse, 2013, p. 4). Pervasiveness of mental health problems in modern day community has been an issue that require immediate measures to control (Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2012). Moreover, dealing with patients with these conditions requires the care provider to be on guard as patients are unpredictable (Björkman, Angelman, and Jönsson, 2008, p. 170). Hence, health care providers require a comprehensive model of care that incorporates the needs of people with mental illnesses and disorder. Health care providers dealing with mental disorders entail a unique approach when handling these cases. The aim of this paper is to critically scrutinize the strengths and limitations of the biomedical and psychosocial models of care. Considering the nursing process has been used to compare these two models. This paper concentrates on mental health to evaluate the effectiveness of the models of care earlier stated. The strengths and limitations of these two models of care are conclusively presented. Application of the models in Nursing Assessment Assessment is the initial stage of the nursing process that aims at identifying ailments (Stuart and Sundeen, 2005). Health care providers are required to examine the symptoms of the patient so as to offer quality care (Whelan, 2006, p. 199). Biomedical model uses a scientific approach that concentrates on curing diseases. This model is extensively recognised as it plays a major role in equipping health care providers with skills in the past century. Exclusive attention is paid towards the body while the mind is overlooked (Pearson et al, 2005, p. 53). Accordingly, focusing on the body has been of great importance in the management of infectious diseases. Germ theory was derived by this model which leads to increase in life expectancy as infectious diseases are abolished (Egan and Kadushin, 2011, p. 61). Moreover, biomedical approach greatly impacted the health care industry by promoting research and the pharmaceutical industry. Complex techniques such as chemotherapy and surgery procedures were advanced from this model. On the other hand, psychosocial rehabilitation model of care provides a unique approach that differs from the above discussed. This approach emphasises on the role of the immediate environment on total wellbeing of a person (Rossler, 2006, p. 152). In the course of assessment of a patient, the biomedical model is less cumbersome in practise as compared to psychosocial rehabilitation model. Following a biomedical approach requires the nurse to administer remedies that are frequently used. However, dreariness can be experienced by a health practitioner using this approach. According to Dossey and Keegan (2013, p. 365) monotonous work leads to imagery caused by the interpretive cortex in the brain that is responsible for bringing back past familiarities. A worn-out nurse is likely to distort information thereby affecting the quality of care given to a patient. There have been numerous arguments on which model between biomedical and psychological rehabilitation model offers quality care. Some researchers dispute that biomedical practitioners are less likely to offer personalised care as they focus on medications to administer to a patient. However, it is not fair to critic a model of care by considering the qualities of care providers. Furthermore, all nurses are trained to follow a theoretical framework. The psychosocial model entails healthcare providers to observe the client as well as his or her social environment to construct a hypothesis in order to effectively treat an ailment. Assessment process requires the health care providers to establish clients’ medical history. These two models of care help determine medical history of the client. However, psychosocial model enables nurses to achieve comprehensive understanding of the situation surrounding clients’ behaviour resulting in deviant behaviour. This is achieved because providers incorporating this model not only interview the patient but also family and friends that facilitate recovery of the patient. This translates into the belief that assessing patients suffering from mental illnesses and disorders can only be achieved by following the psychosocial rehabilitation model. This is to ensure assessment is not affected by challenges that such patients go through such as hallucinations and delusion (Austin and Boyd, 2010, p. 384). Application of the models in Nursing Diagnosis Carpenito (2006, p. 4) asserts that nursing diagnosis is a medical procedure used by nurses to understand patients dealings with concrete or impending health problems. In the course of diagnosis, biomedical physicians diminish the understanding concept of disease to other persons (Mizrachi, Shuval, and Gross, 2005). This steers ranks among staff workers. The language used by doctors differs from that used by other health workers that also interact with patients. This constructs an environment that offers loopholes when administering care to patients. The saying too many cooks spoil the broth is applicable in this scenario. One nurse may notice symptoms and fails to report them to the superior because of the different ranks that define relationship among health workers in a health care centre. Moreover, having a number of health personnel addressing the same patient can result in communication breakdown. Epistemology is a system of belief used by health care providers to analyse patients’ ailments (Evans and Trotter, 2009, p. 320). This is especially used by biomedical practitioners to explain causes and symptoms of different types of diseases. By following this approach the patient is more likely to be referred to as a diagnosis. Furthermore, this model does not offer grounds for healthcare provider to build rapport with a patient thereby encouraging labelling. Patients are denied their right to information as the approach is conducted by an expert who is the sole decision maker throughout the nursing processes. The psychosocial rehabilitation model differs from this approach since the care provider aims to establish rapport with the patient to facilitate recovery. This is of outmost importance when dealing with patients with mental disorders. Such patients need to feel secure with the care provider to facilitate the counselling process. Building rapport with the patient encourages the patient to open up to the health practitioners (Padgett et al, 2008, p. 1150). Moreover, these patients require a listening partner to establish the root cause of deviant behaviour. Biomedical model provides a complex approach as it requires identification of biological defects for prescriptions to be provided. This means that in the absence of a biological defect there is no treatment. Cases of mental illness that lack a biological defect are not unheard of. It is therefore correct to conclude that such mental disorders cannot be approached using biomedical framework. For that reason, it is inapplicable for biomedical practitioners to treat mental illnesses that lack biological effect. Application of the models in Nursing Planning Nursing planning mostly entails decision making and problem solving (Carpenito, 2007, p. 6). Planning is a critical nursing procedure that aims at deriving the most appropriate intervention plan to treat an ailment. Nurses using biomedical and psychosocial rehabilitation models of care are equipped with technical skills to offer quality care. However, biomedical model offers limited skills because much of its focus is on body defects of a patient. On the other hand, the psychosocial rehabilitation model of care recognises environmental stressors that may affect a patient’s wellbeing. It is crucial for a nurse to follow clinical procedures while being vigilant on patients’ behaviour. This is fundamental when handling cases on mental illness and disorder to ensure no harm is inflicted on both parties involved. The psychosocial rehabilitation approach is more realistic and logical especially in mental health context. For example, depression arises when coping skills are overwhelmed by stressors found in our immediate environment. Aetiology of mental illness has been a topic of interest especially in psychology. Genetics and stressful environmental factors are identified as the major source of mental illnesses. Stressful life events depreciate victims coping skills resulting in mental health disorders. Levine and Scotch (2013, p. 5) identified social environment as a major source of stress resulting in mental illnesses among teenagers. Furthermore, a psychosocial approach involves formulating social support as an intervention plan. Social support is essential for people with mental disorder to promote their normal functioning (Linsley, Kane and Owen, 2011, p. 237). Mental disorders are mainly characterised by psychological stressors. The aim of social support in mental health is to improve how a patient perceives the self in order to function normally (Thoits, 2013, p. 358). Biomedical model of care does not offer an effective social support especially to patients suffering from mental syndromes. Application of the models in Nursing Implementation This process requires carrying out intervention plans that are acquired during the first three phases of nursing process. Effective implementation is determined by the health care provider in charge of the implementation process. Values and cultural beliefs of the health care provider blend in and affect the manner in which care is administered (Sandstrom et al, 2011, p. 213). Culture shapes views and opinions on major subjects of concern on health such as causes of ailments, fitness and death. Different cultures are guaranteed to interact in any given health care centre. Cultural biases are creeping in health care centres are often unintended. They are as a result of sense of belonging that is endorsed by culture. People with same cultural background identify with one another and appreciate their shared identity (Maville and Huerta, 2012, p. 94). Nurses ought to follow set procedures though some deviation is caused by cultural factors (James and O'Donohue, 2008, p. 63). This issue cuts across the two models of care and affects health care system at large. People suffering from mental illnesses require a lot of attention and cultural biases would hinder treatment. Health care providers relating with persons with mental disorders should be patient with them as they batter with emotions. Culture is a wide issue that poses a risk in the quality of health care offered regardless of the model of care applied. Nursing professionals entail understanding the connection between health, ailments and human behaviour. It is unfair to claim that a certain model is insufficient during implementation of intervention plans. Models only provide a guideline and it is impossible to discuss the applicability of models of care during this process without analysing the role of health care providers. These two models are interpreted different by various care providers making it difficult to determine whether a model is effective or not during implementation stage of the nursing process. Application of the models in Nursing Evaluation Evaluation is the final nursing process that concludes clients monitoring process to ensure intervention and treatment plans produced the desired results (Doenges and Moonhouse, 2013, p. 4). Psychosocial rehabilitation delivers crucial approaches to attain psychopharmacological support (Gorman and Sultan, 2012, p. 485). This is key as the patient is encouraged to continue with intervention plans to achieve the desired results. In addition, persons ailing from mental illnesses often reject medications as a form of treatment. Psychosocial rehabilitation ensures the need to administer drugs for certain mental conditions is emphasised to the patient as well as to the immediate family. Involving immediate family creates an effective social support that ensures treatment procedures will be adhered to (Gorman and Sultan, 2012, p. 486). This approach is more likely to yield the desired results as opposed to the biomedical approach. The role of biomedical practitioner is to administer drugs for effective treatment and does not extend to usage of the treatment drugs. In the event the drugs are unaffordable to a patient the illness will not be treated. People suffering from mental illness are prone to suicidal thoughts and effective treatment should be achieved to prevent deaths. Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) support systems are achieved through applying the psychosocial rehabilitation approach (Cooper, 2011, p. 214). Common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders promote the use of drugs and alcohol. Mutual aid groups such as DTR have promoted medication adherence and improved quality of life for persons with mental-health substance use disorders (Cooper, 2011, p. 219). There has been a lot of stigma for persons living with mental illness. This was more evident in the past as mental illnesses were perceived as incurable diseases. However, psychotherapy as well as administering mediations is proven treatments for mental ailments (Haber, 2013, p. 280). The Medical Improvements Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) has improved the quality of care offered to people with mental illnesses (Haber, 2013, p. 281). This was to curb rising cost of health care systems brought about by biomedical model that incorporates the use of high technology to come up with a cure. Biomedical model of care is an expensive model to implement as compared to psychological rehabilitation model of care. Though MIPPA has ensured quality health care is accessible to persons living with mental disorders campaigns to educate public on symptoms and effects of mental illness ought to be conducted to minimise stigmatization. Depression and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) are often taken for granted and not considered as serious mental disorders. Conclusion Biomedical and psychosocial rehabilitation models of care have played a major role in shaping the health care system to what it is today. Health care providers have acquired skills that assist them approach patients. Biomedical model of care offers an approach that focuses on the treatment of disease to promote wellbeing of an individual. Psychosocial rehabilitation model of care on the other hand offers an approach that acknowledges the role of environment in treating major ailments. The above mentioned models of care have their strengths and limitations. Biomedical model initiated the germ theory that led to the elimination of infectious diseases thereby increasing life expectancy. However, this model has proved futile when dealing with mental disorders. Psychosocial rehabilitative model offers a suitable approach when engaging with persons with mental ailments. The model encompasses a social support to ensure the patient engages with the self to facilitate progress and normal functioning. Nevertheless, growth of health care system has led to intermingling of different cultures in health care system. Though, nurses are trained to follow set principles cultural influences can create cultural biases that undermine access to quality care. Due to changes in the society, there will come a time for the need of an effective model of care that will cut across cultural issues and ensure there are no cultural biases in health care systems. 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