Concept of Health

Question 1

The Illness (Medical) Model of Health

Answer 1

Views health as ‘the absence of disease’
Goal is to prevent morbidity (state of being diseased) and mortality (death)
Considered to be a mechanistic model; focusing on the disorder rather than the person

Question 2

Signs vs Symptoms

Answer 2

Signs: something you can see
Symptoms: something you feel

Question 3

Prevention model (WHO definition of Health promotion, what it involves, different actions that varying levels of the population take)

Answer 3

“The process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health”

Involves: empowerment, community support, healthy public policy, supportive environments, knowledge translation, identification of risk factors

Community/population level: Prevention and early detection
Individual level: Change health behaviours to reduce risk
Health care provider level: Raise awareness

Question 4

Holistic model

Answer 4

Instead of focusing on the illness or a specific part of the body, considers the whole individual and how they interact with the environment.

Genetics, politics, social factors, health care, personal health behaviours, economics, environment, psychological factors

Question 5

The four personal health behaviours

Answer 5

Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Exercise
Eating fruits/veggies

Question 6

Eight social determinants of health

Answer 6

Employment status and occupation
Education and care in early life
Income inequity 
Marital status 
Housing and food security
Ethnicity
Sense of community engagement
Religion

Question 7

Strategies to improve social determinants of health

Answer 7

1. Social inclusion, reducing social injustice
2. Full employment, job security, healthy working conditions
3. Universal health care access
4. High-quality public education
5. Adequate housing and food
6. Reduced income disparities
7. Empowerment

Question 8

What determines the level of our health? (CCC)

Answer 8

Choices: Decisions we make (smoking, physical activity, diet)

Chances: Our genetic make up (ethnicity, sex, age, etc)

Circumstances: Our neighborhood, work environment, community members, colleagues, and our natural environment

Question 9

Wellness model (WHO definition, 7 dimensions of wellness)

Answer 9

“Health is the complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmary”

Social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, intellectual, physical