Biomedical and Sociological Approaches to Health and Illness

Flashcards based on lecture notes related to biomedical and sociological approaches to health and illness.

What does equality mean in the context of health inequity?

Everyone gets the same resources, without considering specific needs

What does equity mean in the context of health inequity?

Everyone gets what they need to achieve fairer outcomes

What is the WHO's definition of health inequity?

Unfair and avoidable differences in health among population groups

What is the emphasis of health justice?

Removing systemic barriers that hinder access to healthcare

What human rights principles is health justice based on?

Human dignity, ethical behaviors, fairness, and social justice

What is the aim of health justice?

To create a just healthcare system so everyone has equitable access

What actions demonstrate social justice awareness for nurses?

Keep learning, think critically, question unfair systems, reflect on power dynamics, engage with local communities, build awareness of political and social issues, and listen to different perspectives

What does 'discourse' refer to?

The way people talk about, think about, and understand a particular topic through language, communication, and shared ideas

Where does discourse typically appear?

Conversation, education, media, and politics

What is the nature of dominant discourses?

They are often accepted as the 'normal' or 'legitimate' way of understanding an issue

What is an example of a traditional (dominant) discourse on family?

Mom, dad, kids (kinship and blood tie)

What is an example of an inclusive (alternative) discourse on family?

Anyone who loves and supports you

In ancient times, what was health and disease attributed to?

Curse, religion, folklore

What were 'miamas' believed to be in the 16-17th century?

Invisible pollutants in the air that caused disease

What advancements related to health occurred during 'The Enlightenment' (18th century and beyond)?

Life science, microbiology, vaccines, genetics, etc.

What factors became important in understanding health and disease from the 18th century onward?

Scientific evidence, diagnosis, and treatment

According to the biomedical model of health and disease, what causes disease?

All diseases have identifiable biological factors (specific etiology)

According to the biomedical model, how can the body be 'fixed'?

The body is like a machine and can be fixed by medical interventions

According to the biomedical model, what is the relationship between the mind and body?

The mind and body are separated

What does it mean that biomedicine is reductionistic?

The human body is reduced into separated parts (i.e., not holistic)

What are some examples of iatrogenesis?

Side effects, unnecessary procedures, and unnecessary treatments

What is a problem with biomedicine's narrow definition of health?

Health is defined by biological normal ranges

What is an example of victim blaming in biomedicine?

The sick person is to be blamed

What is medicalization?

Everything has a medical diagnosis and needs medical interventions

What is medicalisation?

Defining human experience in medical terms, which requires medical interventions

How does biomedicine act as a form of social control?

Determine what kind of knowledge is legitimate, who is normal, who has the power to define normalcy, what should be done to people who are not normal, and how resources should be used

How does the sick role theory developed by Talcott Parsons view illness?

Views illness as a form of deviance from the social norm

According to the sick role theory, what are the rights of a sick person?

To be temporarily exempt from normal social roles and obligations

According to the sick role theory, what are the responsibilities of a sick person?

To seek help and get better to return to normal social roles as soon as possible

What is a critique of the sick role theory?

Blames the individual for their illness