Week 5 - Modern Biomedical Culture & Other Healing Paradigms

What is biomedicine?

a system of healing that views illness as a biological manifestation affecting the individual

Fill in the blank.

Our current understanding of health draws

heavily on our beliefs about the ____________________________________________________________________.

role of biomedicine in modern society.

Back in the day, centuries ago ; what did we use to treat various ailments that has been popular?

herbs and potions

What did hippocratic medicine heavily emphasized as a treatment option?

diet and exercise

What type of surgeries did ancient caregivers perform?

minor and major

Fill in the blank.

Modern (conventional) medicine knows more about the body, the origins of diseases, and the course of treatment than ______________.

did ancient practitioners.

Fill in the blank.

We hope that our _____________ allow us to identify illness more accurately and precisely than in the past.

diagnostic procedures

What are the five basic, foundational ideas of the biomedical model?

1. Mind–body dualism

2. Physical reductionism

3. Specific etiology

4. Machine metaphor

5. Regimen and control

Explain Mind-Body Dualism.

The philosophical theory that the mind (non-physical thoughts/feelings) and the body (physical aspects) are two separate entities.

Explain Physical Reductionism.

The concept of breaking down the complex functioning of the body into its individual, smaller parts (e.g., heart, liver, lungs) to study them in isolation.

Explain Specific Etiology.

The belief that every disease has its own specific, singular cause and origin, which medicine aims to discover in order to find a treatment.

What does etiology mean?

= the cause

Explain the Machine Metaphor.

A metaphor that depicts the body as a machine with multiple, unique parts. This dissociates each part of the body from the others.

Explain Regimen and Control.

The belief that diseases can be managed through strict control of one’s body by following specific health regimens (e.g., proper nutrition, regular exercise).

What are the choices we make about appropriate ways

to manage our health is driven by?

cultural norms and assumptions about health, illness, and the body.

What have these cultural norms and assumptions have

been shaped by?

the biomedical model.

What is Medicalization?

The process by which non-medical problems (e.g., childbirth, aging) become defined and treated as medical problems, often in terms of illnesses or disorders.

At what three levels does medicalization occur?

1. Conceptually (adopting medical language)

2. Institutionally (organizations use a medical approach)

3. Through Interactions (providers/patients view a problem as medical).

What are the 4 ways that physicians gained control of the health care by?

• subordinating other health professions

• gaining control via professional regulation

• controlling clients

• establishing the notion of public trust in biomedicine

What is diminishing the power of physicians today?

Patients being able to easily access medical information

Biomedical model –

illness is the result of a biological or

physiological problem

Behavioural model - 

illness is the result of poor choices

made by individuals

Socio-environmental model –

encourages the examination of social and environmental factors that impact individuals.

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

A group of diverse healing approaches and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional (allopathic) medicine

What are complementaries in terms of CAM?

Therapies or practices used together with conventional biomedical treatments to support or enhance care.

What are alternatives in terms of CAM?

Therapies or practices used instead of conventional biomedical treatments, often as a replacement.

What are the three common philosophical themes found in most CAM approaches?

1. Holism

2. Therapeutic Relationships

3. Vitalism.

Explain the CAM principle of Holism.

The belief that a person must be considered in their totality (mind, body, spirit) and in context with their environment. It focuses on balance and treating the individual, not just the disease.

Explain the CAM principle of the Therapeutic Relationship.

The belief that the relationship and connection between the practitioner and the client is inherently beneficial and a core part of the healing process itself.

Explain the CAM principle of Vitalism.

The belief that the body is alive and can heal itself due to a special energy or life force that cannot be fully explained by scientific or mechanical laws.

What are 4 examples of CAM?

• Ayurveda

• Homeopathy

• Naturopathy

• Osteopathy

What is chronic plain?

Pain that last for a long duration

For chronic pain, how are treatments prescribed?

based on the strength of evidence (from clinical trial data) for the efficacy of the approved treatment

What type of diagnosis is chronic pain treatment?

approved 

What does integrative medicine involve?

a collaborative team approach to care, which tends to imply

conforming to biomedical standards

What does conformity require?

that accepted therapies be scientifically proven, primarily

through randomized controlled trials (also known as clinical trials)

What is Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and what does it require?

EBM is the application of the scientific method to medical practice. It requires that only therapies proven safe and effective through scientific methods (like clinical trials) are considered appropriate.

Differentiate between "push" and "pull" factors for using CAM.

Push factors motivate a person to move away from conventional medicine (e.g., dissatisfaction, rejection of scientific authority). Pull factors are those that attract a person to CAM (e.g., alignment with personal beliefs, holistic view).

What are the characteristics of a typical CAM user?

Typical CAM users are women, older adults, those with higher education, and individuals suffering from chronic illnesses or conditions.

What are the four most common health issues for which people use CAM?

1. Back/neck pain

2. Head or chest colds

3. Joint pain or stiffness

4. Anxiety or depression.

How is CAM regulated in Ontario/Canada?

Regulation varies by province. In Ontario, some CAM practitioners (e.g., naturopaths, homeopaths, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners) are regulated health professions, governed by provincial colleges that protect the public interest.