Medical and Social of Model Health

Two theories and a perspective on Health which you need to understand and outline.

Medical ModelThis model label’s a person with a diagnosis, patient number and a set of symptoms rather than an individual.

It is usual in diagnosing short term acute health problems, such as an ear infection or tooth abscess. Health issues is ‘fixed’ and the person see’s the doctor once and walks away with a solution.

My ear aches… I’ll go to the doctors today

I don’t care which

doctor I just wanted it sorted!!

A health professional, such as a doctor is always right and I can trust that they are always right and can sort my health issue. I don’t need to go anywhere else or take responsibility myself.

Medical Model

Quantity rather than quality

With the medical model we look at how many people can have a health issue ‘resolved’ rather than the quality of life an individual has. For example, smoking related lung cancer takes priority over a person with schizophrenia’s experiences which impact on their health.

Parallel with a machineReference; page 78 Applied AS (Folens) Angela Fisher et al

Person Feels ill

Goes to doctor

Person examined

Diagnosis made

Treatment offered

Feeling better

Car wont start

Calls garage

Car examined

Fault found

Part replaced

Back on the road

With this perspective we say “hang on….. We’re all unique individuals with a certain set of circumstances that makes us all different”

“Health professionals should see us as people and respect our differences and take our backgrounds and experiences into consideration…. Better still… we can live a healthier life style so we don’t need doctors…”

Social Model

Socialisation experiences

Personal experiences

EmploymentFears

Outlook on life

Housing

Religious beliefs

Education

Peer pressure

Role models

Income £ Diet

Healthy life styleThe social model looks at a person living a healthy life style…

• Healthy balanced diet

• Stress management

• 8 hours sleep• Adequate exercise• Keep warm• 2 litres of fluid• Appropriate

friends

• No doctors needed• Self help• Positive thinking• Good housing• No

drugs/alcohol/cig’s• Believe in oneself• Enjoy life

Which one is at fault?An asthmatic childAllergens reactionAirways lining swells and produces more mucus >wheezeRequires desensitised steroid preventerRequires ventolin inhaler

A child who has asthma wheezesPassive smoking and damp housing causes wheezingMove away from bad environmentGentle exercise strengthens respiratory system

Comparisons The Medical Model

The Social Model

I ndividual service users are viewed

as a patient number, a labelled

diagnosis with no personalisation.

Personalised; a service user is

viewed as a unique individual with a

certain set of circumstances.

A medical condition is viewed as a

human that is broken and needs

fi xing quickly. Focus on negatives.

A medical condition is viewed as a

consequence of poor social and

economic circumstances.

A doctor is view as ‘God-like’ and

gives a diagnosis which is never

questioned.

Self -management of health on own

terms, a healthy lif e style

adopted. Focus on positives.

A doctor prescribes medicine which

is then taken. “Compliance means

‘doing as you’re told”

People look f or alternatives to

medicine, such as exercise, move

address, a change of thinking.

Disempowering; hands over health to

medical prof essionals and takes no

responsibility f or their own health.

Empowering and individuals take

responsibility f or their own health,

given support and services.

Suitable outlook f or acute short

term illness/ inf ections such as an

ear inf ection or tooth abscess.

Suitable f or long term illness

management or mental health

illness treatments.

Historically used by the NHS A newer perspective on health

Mrs Mistry use to live in Leicester City Centre where she used buses to get around easily and lived amongst her own community where other people spoke Punjabi, like she did. She knows learning English would have been a good idea and does know the basics, but she never bothered to learn it well as she didn’t need to. Mrs Mistry has two grown up daughters, one who is married and has a job and the other who is in her last year at university and hasn’t lived at home for two years. They are very westernised and she feels there is a big distance between them, she feels she has ‘an empty nest’. She used to be a very busy mum, aunty and was the centre of all family events and celebrations. She was respected and looked up to but the family rarely gets together as they’re all busy with their own families and some have moved away with their jobs. Her husband decided they should move out of the city centre to a nicer suburb and a much more modern house. The area has better shops and the house is bigger and nicely decorated. He works hard and felt he wanted to treat his wife with better living conditions. Recently Mrs.Mistry has been comfort eating and has put on weight, her sleep pattern is poor as she’s often up at night and stays in bed during the day. She is withdrawn and does not explain how she feels to her husband as she is ashamed and embarrassed. She can’t explain why she does the things she does and has never known anyone behave similarly to herself. Mr.Mistry decides to take his wife to the doctors and tells the doctor about what’s been happening from his point of view. He translates for her but changes some of what she says slightly. The doctor diagnoses depression.

Case study

Medical Model perspective 

Husband takes her to the doctor because she hasn’t been herself for some time; bad sleep pattern, binge eating, stays in bed, doesn’t shower and cries a lot. Recovery depends on the belief that what the doctor says is correct and must be followed – dependent and disempowered. Diagnosis – depression. There is a stigma and judgements made on people with mental illness “labels”. Now feels she is the depressed old Asian lady rather than Mrs. Mistry who is temporarily ill. Doctor prescribes anti-depressants to take twice a day but they won’t work for 6 weeks and are not guaranteed to lift her mood. There could be side effects and the fear of the ‘unknown’ or dependency. She needs to go to the chemist to collect her pills as her husband will be at work. The prescription cost is £7.40Remember; she can’t speak English very well. The doctor says go to a counselling sessions for 6 weeks, one hour a week and talk about personal private feelings with a professional counsellor.  The GP is also able to give Mrs.Mistry a free 6 month membership to the gym as exercise helps produce ‘happy’ chemicals in the body and can lift a low mood. She wears a Sari and is overweight with a poor sense of self-worth. The doctor casual says that Mrs.Mistry should get a part-time job or do some volunteering to get out the house and socialising.    

Mrs.Mistry was a busy mum, aunty and sister who arranged all family gatherings as well as running a tidy clean house.

Lately Mrs.Mistry spent a lot of time crying, staying in bed, not showering, binge eating or not eating and does not talk to anyone

Depression

DepressionSocial model perspective

 Mrs.Mistry can read/research about the problems she is having using the NHS direct website and other supportive informing specialist websites. The internet is something she is fearful and confused about. She can join a local support group for people with depression where they meet once a fortnight for a drink and a catch up to share feelings so she is not alone in her feelings. She could also share her feelings and seek reassurance and love from her daughters/family/friends/husband. She is afraid of judgements and being told to get-her-act- together. Mrs.Mistry could take a short walk once a day to the shops to buy food for the evening meal. Depression can be improved if a person feels they are worthwhile and can achieve small tasks to build their self-esteem and pride – she could cook a meal in the evening and watch a ‘Leaning English for Beginners’ DVD. She could also buy a DVD with guidance to some basic exercises that can help maintaining a good fitness level and reduce her weight to a better BMI. This could make her feel in control, empowered and give her a good feeling. Mrs.Mistry could go to the local community centre where they hold a Hindu ladies social faith coffee morning to get together where she could take part in activities or just sit and chat.

Mrs.Mistry was a busy mum, aunty and sister who arranged all family gatherings as well as running a tidy clean house.

Lately Mrs.Mistry spent a lot of time crying, staying in bed, not showering, binge eating or not eating and does not talk to anyone