Session 1 - Biopsychosocial model and medicine (plus public health)

Question 1

Explain the biomedical model in terms of its beliefs and how treatment is approached

Answer 1

Biomedical model (traditional medicine):

• Illness is understood in terms of biological and physiological processes
• Treatment for illness is approached with interventions (drugs, surgery etc.)

Question 2

Explain the biopsychosocial model and its components

Answer 2

The biopsychosocial model suggests that there are 3 factors contributing to health and illness:

1. Bio - physiology, genetics etc.
2. Social - social class, employment etc.
3. Psycho - e.g. cognition, behaviour etc.

Question 3

Define ‘Public Helath’ (WHO definition)

Answer 3

The art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health, through organised efforts of society

Question 4

Outline primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention

Answer 4

Primary prevention:

• Preventing the onset of a disease
  e. g. campaigns on the risk of drug addiction

Secondary prevention:

• Preventing the worsening of an already established disease
  e. g. early identification through screening and treatment

Tertiary prevention:

• Limiting the impact of a disease/symptoms on an individual’s life and improving their quality of life, e.g. reducing mortality
  e. g. treating addicted individuals

Question 5

List the 3 domains of public health and 2 examples of each

Answer 5

1. Health improvement
   e. g. smoking cessation, sexual health services
2. Health protection
   e. g. screening, immunisation and vaccination
3. Healthcare public health
   e. g. service design, evaluation and research

(all underpinned by epidemiology, health economics, sociology and psychology)