Biomedical Model of Health

Question 1

Biomedical approach to health

Answer 1

Focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a Medical model practice by doctors and health professionals and is associated with a diagnosis, treatment and cure of a disease

Question 2

Why is the biomedical approach sometimes called the “Band-Aid” or “quick fix” approach

Answer 2

The biomedical approach is sometimes called a Band-Aid or quick fix approach because it waits for individuals to become ill before working to return them to their pre-illness state rather than preventing ill-health

Question 3

Advantages of the biomedical approach

Answer 3

• it improves quality of life

many conditions can be managed with medication, therapy or surgery, reducing pain and suffering and in turn reducing why YLL and YLD

•It extends life expectancy

Many causes of death that were common in the past such as infectious diseases can now be treated and cured increasing life expectancy and in turn reducing YLL

• creates advances in technology and research

Without the biomedical approach to health, there would be no x-rays, antibiotics or anaesthetics. They would also be relatively little knowledge about how to diagnose and treat Ilness

Question 4

Disadvantages of the biomedical approach

Answer 4

•Affordability

Not all individuals can afford the medical technologies and resources that are a part of the biomedical approach to health. This is an important factor contributing to the differences experienced in health status between population groups

• it does not always promote good health and well-being

As the focus is on diagnosing and treating ill-health rather than factors that cause ill-health, The biomedical approach does not encourage people to be responsible for their own health and well-being