biomedical approach to health

Question 1

what is the biomedical approach to health

Answer 1

focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness.

it is a medical model practised by doctors and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease

focuses on individuals who are sick and attempts to return them to their pre-illness state

TREAT, DIAGNOSE, CURE

Question 2

features of the biomedical approach to health

Answer 2

1. focuses on people that are ill
2. concerned with disease, illness and disability
3. relies on services provided by doctors, specialists and hospitals
4. quick fix approach
5. relies on technology to diagnose, treat and cure

Question 3

improvements in medical technology

Answer 3

1. 3D organs and body parts = these can be printed which means there’s less pressure on ppl waiting for transplants thus increasing life expectancy
2. MRI scans = allows for more accurate diagnosis for diseases leading to effective treatment being provided
3. medicines and vaccines

Question 4

advantages of biomedical approach to health

Answer 4

1. improves quality of life + HALE = many chronic conditions can be managed with medication, therapy or surgery thus reducing pain and suffering
2. brings about improvements in technology = the biomedical model helped develop medical technology like X-rays, allowing for more accurate diagnosis of diseases and effective treatment being provided

Question 5

disadvantages of biomedical approach to health

Answer 5

1. affordability = it relies on health professionals and technology that can be expensive so smaller rural-based health clinics may not be able to afford medical resources
2. doesn’t always promote good H+W = the biomedical model is a ‘quick fix’ approach so it doesn’t focus on the causes of ill health and doesn’t encourage ppl to be responsible for their own H+W meaning more ppl may get sick