BTEC Health and Social Care L3 Unit 7 – Sociological perspectives Lesson 3

Biomedical and Sociomedical … A visual introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prf1cM8zCSk

Biomedical Model

Biomedical model, an introduction… Linked to the medical profession – qualified experts diagnose and treat illnesses/health concerns Biological science explains disease and illness It focuses on CURE, rather than prevention

BIOMEDICAL MODEL A simple analogy The body is like a MACHINE – eg. a car – when the engine BREAKS DOWN it needs ‘FIXING’ Link to a perspective?

BIOMEDICAL MODEL This approach encourages the service user to be DEPENDENT on the service provider – how? The patient takes on a ‘SICK ROLE’ – he/she gives responsibility to others to look after his/her health (evaluation?)

Sick role can lead to powerlessness and vulnerability (disempowerment) evaluation Sick role can lead to powerlessness and vulnerability (disempowerment)

Further evaluation Most effective with short term illness where cause can be identified and treatment can be administered Eg? Least effective with chronic illnesses (long- term, managed illnesses) that cannot be cured

Tend not to focus on environmental and social factors that may have led to ill-health Such as?

Activity Do you believe you are in the safe hands of doctors and other medical professionals? Personal experiences? Research ‘medical negligence’ or ‘Examples of medical malpractice cases’ www.amedicalmalpracticenewsletter.com/html/examples.html

Other criticisms FEMINISTS argue that the biomedical approach to health leads to the MEDICALISATION of childbirth/labour eg. it is treated like an illness, many interventions are unnecessary, such as?

www.amedicalmalpracticenewsletter.com/html/examples. html Other criticisms ILLICH a radical theorist argues that modern medicine creates disease/illness eg.??? He called this IATROGENESIS Using the computers research the concept of IATROGENESIS. Research ‘medical negligence’ or ‘examples of medical malpractice cases’ www.amedicalmalpracticenewsletter.com/html/examples. html

SOCIAL MODEL OF HEALTH Key points

Social Model of health Mainly links to the positive definition of health Give an example of someone who is healthy and unhealthy using this definition It challenges the bio medical model

SOCIAL MODEL This model is linked to the WHO definition of health. It addresses the ORIGINS of ill health and takes a HOLISTIC approach. It stresses PREVENTION over CURE

SOCIAL MODEL It believes that there is more to ill-health than just physical symptoms This model links to EMPOWERING the individual to take responsibility for his/her own health

Social model Practitioners recognise that health differs between individuals and social groups in terms of: Behaviour Culture Material factors Structural factors

How can these factors effect health ? Behaviour Culture Material factors Structural factors

BEHAVIOUR

CULTURE

MATERIAL FACTORS

STRUCTURAL FACTORS

Perspective links?

Link to CONFLICT theories Ill-health can be explained by inequalities in society Eg? How is the capitalist system bad for our health? How is patriarchy bad for our health?

SOCIAL MODEL - EVALUATION Most of us derive some benefit from cures provided from scientific medicine Any other criticisms??

Seen to be intrusive Time-consuming

Assignment 1 task 3 M1 Write an essay: Outline and assess the biomedical and social models of health

STRUCTURE Introduce the 2 models of health and link to the 2 definitions Describe the biomedical approach with examples Evaluate this model Describe the social model of health with examples Evaluate it Conclusion