models of health

Question 1

the biomedical approach to health

Answer 1

focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness; a medical model practiced by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease

Question 2

focuses of the biomedical model

Answer 2

• diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions once symptoms are present

Question 3

features of the biomedical model

Answer 3

• focuses on individuals who are ill
• relies on technology to treat and cure diseases
• concerned with disease illness and disability
• relies on services provided by doctors, specialists and hospitals
• quick fix approach

Question 4

strengths

Answer 4

• funding brings about improvements in technology and research
• it enables many illnesses and conditions to be effectively treated
• it extends life expectancy
• it improves quality of life and health-adjusted life expectancy

Question 5

limitations

Answer 5

• relies on health workers and technology and is therefore costly
• doesnt always promote good health and wellbeing
• not every condition can be treated
• not always affordable

Question 6

the social model of health

Answer 6

an approach that recognises improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, sociocultural and political environments of health that have an impact on individuals and population groups

Question 7

why was the social model developed?

Answer 7

• towards the 1970s, infectious diseases had been more or less treated and under control, which lead to people living longer
• longer life expectancy lead to rise in lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancers.
• this brought a belief that if people were more concious of the impacts of their lifestyle, they could take action to change it
• this lead to a shift to health promotion alongside the biomedical stratergies