Models of health and disability

Question 1

What is the WHO (2017) definition of health?

Answer 1

• Free from injury, illness or disability
• A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO 2017)

Question 2

What is the definition of injury as per Oxford dictionary and the 2010 Equality Act?

Answer 2

• A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities (Oxford dictionary)
• A physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on one’s ability to do normal daily activities (Equality act 2010

Question 3

Why are definitions of disability important?

Answer 3

• Discover how many disabled people there may be in a region, country etc
• It allows us to identify services needed and where resources should be allocated
• It also allows us to harness expertise and attain professional knowledge to support people with disabilities
• It enables us to develop policy in relation to disability
• To support the individuality and collective identity of disabled people

Question 4

What is the definition of impairment?

Answer 4

Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function e.g. CVA/stroke. This is physical and psychological

Question 5

What is the definition of Handicap?

Answer 5

The disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by disability e.g. stroke – unable to work. This is social

Question 6

What does the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) incorporate?

Answer 6

Biological (medical), psychological and social factors i.e. models of health and disability

For example, someone may be diagnosed with osteoarthritis. This has physical impairments due to pain and swelling of knee, but also contextual (social) considerations, how can they walk to work, or use their stairs at home. It also has psychological effects, due to fear in the future and worried feelings about how their condition affects future leisurely activities etc

Question 7

What is the social model of health and disability?

Answer 7

• Developed by people with disability to take action against discrimination
• Campaigns for better building access, more consideration, inclusion
• Allows people with disability to talk about humans rights and inclusion
• A tool to challenge, confront and change society
• Clear message to health professionals that chronic illness/disability is affected mofe than just the physical body

Question 8

What are social barriers that affect those with disabilities?

Answer 8

• Environment is inaccessible: buildings, language services, communication
• Attitude: prejudice, stereotyping, discrimintation
• Organisations: Inflexible procedures and practices

Question 9

Demonstrate the clinical importance of the bio-psycho-social approach

Answer 9

Attempts to recognise the concerns of the
social model
▪ Encourages holistic understanding of complex
experiences of health and illness
▪ Acknowledges psychological and social facets
of disease and injury
▪ Accepts that each person has a diff experience of disease
▪ Encourages a person-centred approach – expertise of health professional and patient
shared
▪ Emotional issues raised by illness are acknowledged
▪ Identifies a person’s own resources for adapting and coping

Question 10

How can person-centred treatment be adopted in practice?

Answer 10

The biopsychosocial model helps to exercise person-centred treatment instead of
doctor-centred treatment
× It is important to be empathetic and see the problem from the patient’s perspective
× This can be done through: effective communication, active listening, active listening
× Health professionals can be taught about disability through conventional lectures
and seminars as well as practice - based learning and encounters and teaching
delivered by ppl who have a disability or care for someone with disabilities