social model of health and relationship between the biomedical and social models

Question 1

what is the social model of health

Answer 1

the social model of health/ new public health; focuses on the physical, sociocultural and politacal envirnoments that have impacts on health outcomes.

Question 2

what are two key points of social model of health

Answer 2

• the model targets whole communities
• the model focuses on the impact of lifestyle-based diseases.

Question 3

strengths of the social model of health

Answer 3

• education can be paused on from generation to generation; the social model of health often uses education to enchance health and wellbeing. this knowledge can be paused on to future generations, promoting sustainable improvements in health status.
  * the responsiblity for health and wellbeing is shared; the social model of health makes health and wellbeing the responsiblity of more than just the health sector so that the reasons behind poor health and wellbing are more likely to be adressed.
• it is less expensive than the biomedical approach; although health promotions programs can cost millions of dollars to implement, the investment is often significantly cheaper than treating conditions once symptoms arise.

Question 4

limitations of the social model of health

Answer 4

• not every illness or condition can be prevented; the causes of some conditions, including many genetic conditions, can be very diffucult to prevent.
• * it doesn’t address the health and wellbeing concerns of individuals; those who are sick, for example, are not a specific focus on the social health model of health, which can impact negatively on their health and wellbeing and the health status of the population.

Question 5

differences between biomedical and social model (focus on health)

Answer 5

Focus on Health:

Biomedical Model: Primarily focuses on the physical aspects of health, often emphasizing the biological and physiological factors like disease, genetics, infections, and treatments. The biomedical model tends to look at health from a more mechanistic viewpoint, where health is seen as the absence of disease. (it is focused on individuals and their health)

Social Model: Takes a broader view of health, considering not only the biological factors but also social, environmental, and economic factors that influence health. It emphasizes the role of lifestyle, social relationships, culture, access to resources, and societal conditions in shaping an individual’s well-being. ( social model focuses on community health)

Question 6

differences between biomedical and social model (responsibility for health)

Answer 6

Responsibility for Health:

Biomedical Model: The individual is often seen as responsible for managing their own health, particularly in terms of following medical advice and taking prescribed treatments.

Social Model: Emphasizes the role of society in creating conditions that support the health of individuals, stressing collective responsibility to improve health through better public policies and social support systems.

Question 7

differences between biomedical and social model (causes of illness)

Answer 7

Cause of Illness:

Biomedical Model: Illness is seen primarily as a result of biological or physical causes (e.g., pathogens, malfunctioning organs, or genetic defects).

Social Model: Illness is viewed as being influenced by a range of social determinants, such as poverty, education, living conditions, social networks, and societal norms.

Question 7

similarities between biomedical and social model (goal of health improvement and acknowledgement of the importance of prevention)

Answer 7

Goal of Health Improvement:

Both models aim to improve health and well-being, although their methods and approaches differ.

Acknowledgment of the Importance of Prevention:

Both models recognize the importance of stopping disease. While the biomedical model focuses on treating disease through vaccines or screenings, the social model emphasizes preventing health issues by addressing social determinants like poverty or education.

Question 8

applying biomedical and social model to CVD

Answer 8

contributions to biomedical model
* development of medication to reduce blood pressure and chloestral levels.
* development of new surgical technique to repair burst and blocked arteries.
* technology to diagnose respiratory diseases.
contributions to social model
* goverment health promotion adn education compaigns making people aware of the benefits of not smoking to reduce heart attack risk.
* workplaces providing free blood pressure checks to help detect elevated blood pressure and improve associated health behaivours.

Question 9

applying biomedical and social model to cancers

Answer 9

contributions to biomedical model
* Technology to conduct biopsies, X-rays and MRI scans to diagnose cancer

• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat cancer
• Surgery to remove cancerous cells

contributions to social model of health
* Use health promotion campaigns such as Quit and SunSmart to encourage people to undertake behaviours that will prevent the development of cancer

• Make changes to the environment in which people live and work to reduce exposure of people to cancer-causing substances
• Introduce laws and policies that help people to make healthy decisions, such as increasing the cost of tobacco, unhealthy food and alcohol