health models Flashcards
(29 cards)
Old public health
focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease, such as providing safe water, sanitation and sewage disposal, improved nutrition, improved housing conditions and better work conditions
Public Health
The way governments monitor, regulate and promote health status and prevent disease
impact of old public health on health status
- better living conditions (less deaths to infectious disease),
- better ventilation (less rates of respiratory disease - influenza + pneumonia),
- improved nutrition (better immune system, cholesterol),
- improved sanitation (less deaths due to diarrhoea and cholera),
- decreased mortality rates (increased life expectancy and reduced IMR)
Old public health policies + practices
- improved water and sanitation
- Better quality housing and fewer slums
- Better quality food and nutrition
- Quarantine laws
- Safer working conditions
- More hygienic birthing practices
- Provision of antenatal and infant welfare services
- mass immunisation
Old public health - policy vs practice
Quarantine Laws = border security, new laws
antenatal and infant welfare services = child health records, compulsory GP, nutrition
Implementation of campaigns = spread of disease, smoking, nutrition, driving, violence
Health research and data = diagnostics, funding and trials
Health promotion
the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health
Biomedical approach to health
focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model practiced by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease.
Characteristics of Biomedical approach
- Aims to maintain life
- Focuses on individuals who are ill
- Relies heavily on technology to diagnose, treat and cure disease
- Quick-fix approach and doesn’t address reasons
- Relies on services provided by health professionals
- Involves diagnosing and treating illnesses once symptoms are present
- Works to return a person to their pre-illness state
- Concerned with the physical aspects of illness, disease and disability
Advantages of biomedical approach
- extends life expectancy
- improvements in technology and research
- effectively treated
Disadvantages of biomedical approach
- relies on professionals
- doesn’t always promote good health
- not every condition can be treated
- heavy reliance on professionals can lead to mistakes
- A band-aid approach - doesn’t address why
new public health
an approach to health that expands the traditional focus on individual behaviour change to one that considers the ways in which physical, sociocultural and political environments impact on health. Also referred to as the social model of health.
Principles of the social model of health
- Addresses the broader determinants of health
- Involves intersectoral collaboration
- Acts to reduce social inequities
- Acts to enable access to health care
- Empowers individuals and communities
Advantages of the social model of health
- it promotes good health and wellbeing and assists in preventing diseases.
- it is relatively inexpensive.
- it focuses on vulnerable population groups.
- education can be passed on from generation to generation.
- the responsibility for health and wellbeing is shared
Disadvantages of the social model of health
- Not every condition can be prevented
- It does not promote the development of technology and medical knowledge
- It does not address the health concerns of individuals
- Health promotion messages may be ignored
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
An approach to health development by the World Health Organization which attempts to reduce inequalities in health.
3 strategies that make the Ottawa charter
Advocate, enable and mediate
Action areas of the Ottawa Charter
Bad Cats Smell Dirty Rats
Build healthy public policy
Create supportive environments
Strengthen community action
Develop personal skills
Reorient health services
Build Healthy Public Policy
Relates directly to the decisions made by government and organisations in relation to laws and policies that affect health (e.g. smoking ban, smoking tax, seatbelt)
Create supportive environments
A supportive environment that is safe, stimulating, satisfying and enjoyable helps people practice health behaviours (e.g. provision of shade in school playgrounds, QUITline)
Strengthen community action
Focuses on building links between individuals and the community and centres around the community working together to achieve a common goal (E.g. The central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Immunisation program)
Develop personal skills
Providing opportunities for people to develop knowledge and skills that give them greater control over their health. Education is a strong element of this area. (e.g. Learn how to cook a nutritious meal, Pour a standard drink, talking to reduce conflict)
Reorient health services
Switch the focus from focusing on just the biomedical model to a more preventative health care model, which encourages medical professionals to place a stronger focus on health promotion by taking on the role of the educator (e.g. address healthy eating rather than surgery for CVD)
What is social justice?
4 principles of social justice
human rights, access, participation, equity
