The Biomedical Approach to Health

Biomedical model/ approach

The biomedical approach to health focuses on the physical or biological aspects of diseases and illness, a medical model practiced by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of diseases.

• Focuses mainly on the use of technology to diagnose and cure diseases

• Provided by doctors, specialists and hospitals

• Individuals are the focus of the biomedical approach.

Features of the biomedical approach

• Focuses on individuals who are ill

• Concerned with disease, illness and disability

• Relies on serives provided by the doctors, specialists and hospitals

• Quick fix approach

• Relies on technology to diagnose, treat and cure

Advanatages of biomedical approach

An advanatage is that the biomedical model of health has led to greater research and understanding regarding health conditions and treatment, resulting in fewer people suffering from ill health from ___

• Resulting in greater life expectancy.

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The biomedical model of health accounts for people who have already developed an illness or disease. Some illnesses and diseases cannot be prevented through health promotion or behaviour change, so the biomedical approach to health can be used to treat and sometimes cure these illnesses and diseases once they inevitably occur in the population.

The biomedical model of health can reduce pain and uncomfortable symptoms for people and living with chronic health conditions.

• Even in the case that an illness or disease cannotbe cured, uncomfortable symptoms can often be managed through using the biomedical model of health.

Disadvantages

The biomedical model of health can be expensive. The frequent use of medication and medical technology to treat illness and diseease can be expensive for the individual requiring treatment. The biomedical model of health also requires medical practitioners to deliver health services, such as surgeries, which can represent a significant cost to the economy.

The biomedical model can encourage a reliance on quick fix solutions to health issues. As the focus is on the condition itself rather than the factors that caused it, the biomedical approach does not encourage people to be responsible for their own health and wellbeing.

The biomedical model of health cannot be usedto treat certain diseases. This is because some diseases, such as cancers, may not be able to undergo medical treatment once they develop and progress past a certain point.

Not everyone can be treated. This is because those relying on the biomedical approach to restore optimal health and wellbeing may experience conditions that cannot be cured or treated effectively. These conditions may be preventable through behaviour change.

Difference between biomedical and the social model of health

The biomedical of health focuses on the the biomedical or physical aspects of diseases and illness while the social model of health focuses on broader determintants of health and wellbeing like socioeconomic status

The Biomedical model of health focuses on the indivudual who are ill however the social model of health focuses on preventing the development of disease within the individual and the population.

Why do we use both biomedical and social model of health?

It is important to use both models of health because the social model of health is important as it aims to prevent disease and illnesses. However it is impossible to prevent all conditions therefore the biomedical model health is used to diagnose and treat diseases and illnesses when they occur.