The socio-medical model of health looks at how the environment and how the society around us affect the health and well-being of an individual. Factors such as the social class, occupation, education, poor housing, pollution and poor diet affect an individual. For example poor housing and poverty are more likely to cause respiratory problems such as asthma. In this case the socio medical model would encourage the society to include better housing and introduce schemes in order to tackle poverty as a solution to reduce the risk of any diseases. (Wiki answers, n/d)
2) Explain how the biomedical and socio-medical of health might be applied when considering the health and well-being of individuals. Use three examples for each model to help you explain further.
Socio-medical
Poverty
Poverty can negatively influence the health of an individual. This is because if an individual cannot afford to be vaccinated or be treated for an illness. If one doesn’t receive the necessary treatment because he or she cannot afford medicine than one’s health will get worst. In some cases without treatment one can heal by resting, but it is most likely that an individual living in poverty will continue working although he or she is sick.
Poor housing
Poor housing can lead an individual to become ill. Poor housing conditions such as unsanitary water and cold and damp conditions in the home can worsen symptoms and diseases such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, asthma and arthritis. Poor housing can be a result of poverty because maybe the home owners cannot afford to repair their house ( Anon, 2010).
Diet
Diet can affect the health and well-being of an individual. Studies have shown that healthy foods can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. A balanced diet can help an individual maintain a healthy weight. Obese or overweight individuals are more at risk from several conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer. On the other hand a healthy diet can easily stable a condition such as Diabetes type 2 and hypertension along with the necessary medication. A healthy diet can also prevent illnesses and diseases (Anon, n/d).
Bio-medical
Doctor
The doctor can help an individual’s health because he or she can diagnose a disease which the patient has. By doing so, the doctor can advise treatment to the patient in order to stable or cure the illness or disease. On the other hand if one cannot afford a doctor he or she may get his or her situation worse or even die. For example the doctor can diagnose a patient with H1N1 influenza.
Treatment
The treatment can help the patient control and stable the illness or the disease that the patient has. A treatment is advised by the doctor after ones illness or disease is diagnosed. For example kimo therapy to cure breast cancer.
Medicine
Medicine can help to cure or stable a disease or condition. If one cannot afford medication this will lead the individual to worsen his or her condition. For example medication to control Diabetes type 2.
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the biomedical and socio-medical models of health. (D1)
The socio medical model
The strengths of the socio medical model are that:
- it encourages individuals to live healthy lifestyles
- it looks at the cause of the illness
- it tries to change the factor that causes illness to prevent the illness to happen again.
The weaknesses of the socio medical model are that:
- it takes time to identify factors that affect the illness
- and it takes time to identify a prevention in order to stop an illness or disease from happening again
The bio-medical model
The strengths of the bio-medical model are that:
- It takes account of the health needs of the individual
- Illnesses can be diagnosed by a health professional
- This model look at the individual and do not take account of why illness is happening to a group of people
The weaknesses of the bio-medical model are that:
- It lies in its failure to fully involve psychosocial factors which have proven to be powerful co- factors of disease in modern society.
References
Anon. (2010). Make over your diet. Retrieved 20th April 2010 from
Anon. (2010). Poor housing and health. Retrieved 20th April 2010 from http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Housing/Privatehousing/Poor_Housing__Health.aspx
a-Wikipedia. (n/d). Biomedical model. Retrieved 20th April 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomedical_model
Wiki answers. (n/d). What does the socio-medical models of health mean?. Retrieved 20th April 2010 from