L1 Models of health and health influencing factors

Question 1

Define the Biomedical Model

Answer 1

Health is the absence of disease

Question 2

What are the pros of the biomedical model?

Answer 2

Easy to measure as its easy to define who is diseased/ who is not diseased

Question 3

What are the cons of the biomedical model?

Answer 3

Does not focus on psychological well being, only on pathological well being
Does not take into account risks, is a person that drinks heavily considered healthy until they obtain the disease?
Does not take into account daily activities/roles, is a person with a broken arm considered healthy? They are not diseased
E.g. Patient goes to the dentist and is diagnose with gingivitis, the patient is considered unhealthy

Question 4

Define the WHO Model

Answer 4

Health is the complete state of physical, mental and social well being

Question 5

What are the pros of the WHO Model?

Answer 5

Holistic approach – takes into account many factors

Allows for patients to set a goal to achieve ‘the best’ health status

Question 6

What are the cons of the WHO Model?

Answer 6

Not easy to achieve perfect health
Hard to measure
Almost everyone would be considered unhealthy
Physical ability is varied over different people, different people of the same age may be able to achieve different things (e.g. one can climb a mountain, one can swim very fast)

Question 7

Define the Sociological model

Answer 7

The state of optimum capacity of an individual based upon the effective performance of role function, this is normative, that is to say health is relative to the individual’s typical ability of the same age/gender

Question 8

What are the pros of the Sociological model?

Answer 8

Takes into account different roles/jobs within society

Question 9

What are the cons of the Sociological model?

Answer 9

Person may be physically (obese) or mentally challenged but still be able to fulfil their role in society ( go to work and provide for family)
E.g. I may be ill, but can still go to lectures to learn information, so I am healthy

Question 10

Define the Biopsychosocial model

Answer 10

Interaction between biological, psychological and social aspects of someone’s life, which contributes to overall health

Question 11

What are the pros of the Biopsychosocial model?

Answer 11

Encompasses all key areas of models
Understands that heath is obtained from a variety of factors
Allows for an individual to take control of their own health

Question 12

What are the cons of the Biopsychosocial model?

Answer 12

Hard to measure

The people around you affect your health

Question 13

Define the term Illness

Answer 13

A subjective state felt by an individual, a feeling of ill being

Question 14

Define the term Ill health

Answer 14

When an individual feels ill, which is later confirmed as a disease

Question 15

Define the term Disease

Answer 15

A pathological condition that is identifiable by its signs and symptoms by medical practitioner

Question 16

Define the term Sickness

Answer 16

A social state that arises from either being diseased or feeling ill

Question 17

Define the term Oral health

Answer 17

‘A standard of the oral tissue which enables an individual to, eat speak, socialise without active disease or discomfort or embarrassment, which contributes to overall general well being’
Defined by ‘An oral health strategy for England’ published in 1994 by the department of health

Question 18

Describe the methods of measuring health

Answer 18

Disease specifying – medical practitioners diagnosing a disease
Health orientated – observing a disease and seeing if it affects people’s role/ function in society
Health/oral health related QOL- Looking at an overview of someone’s life, and its relation to their health, so they perceive themselves as healthy?

Question 19

What are the health influencing factors?

Answer 19

FLEAS
Fixed
Lifestyle
Environment
Access
Social

Question 20

How do lifestyle factors impact health?

Answer 20

Smoking cigarettes – increase risk of lung cancer
Drinking alcohol – increase risk of liver damage
Eating lots of fatty foods – increase risk of heart attack
Sexual behaviour - STDs

Question 21

How do environmental factors impact health?

Answer 21

Pollution – asthma
Housing – may have knock on effects on psychotically well being
Crime
Air quality

Question 22

How do access factors impact health?

Answer 22

Transport links – may not be able to access practice

Disabilities – cannot understand medical practitioner

Question 23

How do social factors impact health?

Answer 23

Psychological
Cultural
Economic

Question 24

What factors lead to health inequalities?

Answer 24

Age - elderly more susceptible to caries (decrease salivary flow rate)
Race - oral health may not be seen as important in some ethnic groups
Social class - economic gap between rich/poor , high income population (teak children)
Location - access to health care services + water fluoridation
Culture - similar story to race

Question 25

Explain the common risk factor approach

Answer 25

Idea that targeting a specific risk factor can decrease the risk of obtaining several diseases associated with that risk factor for example stopping smoking can improve cancers, heart disease, respiratory disease as well as periodontal disease

Question 26

WHO Ottawa Charter for OHP

Answer 26

Process of enabling people to increase control and improve their health