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Write 5 pages thesis on the topic medical model vs social model of health. Medical Model Vs Social Model of HealthThe doctor or the health care provider elaborates a detailed history leading to the de

Write 5 pages thesis on the topic medical model vs social model of health. Medical Model Vs Social Model of Health

The doctor or the health care provider elaborates a detailed history leading to the development of such clinical manifestations in order to determine the causative factors. Differential diagnoses are arrived at and the treatment is started to cure the illness and terminate the disease process.

Social model of health doesn't provide 'cures' for the illnesses based on vital signs and clinical and laboratory data. It presents a broader overview of the factors that may influence the health of the individuals. Infact, this model more efficiently embraces the spirit of the definition of health as given by the WHO. This means that the social model does not assume a person healthy if there is no physical or laboratory abnormality present. It tries to correct and align the fundamental health issues such as the social, cultural and biological environment of the individuals, which almost always, even only indirectly, lead to significant health repercussions. For example, in a patient of coronary heart disease, it would look at the risk factors in context of life style features that can be targeted and modified to reduce the progression and severity of the disease such as cessation of smoking, incorporating more physical activity in to the daily routine, curb alcohol and fat rich food intake, avoiding stressful activities etc. This model tries to identify the psychosocial hindrances to successful management and compliance of the treatment plan. As per this model, the patient actively participates in his or her treatment plan, unlike the medical model in which the doctor or the health care provider is the sole authority and the patient has to just passively follow the instructions of the doctor in order to be healthy.

Comparison of medical and social model of health

Prevention of diseases - While the medical model concerns itself primarily with the treatment or eradication of a disease, the social model concentrates more on how the disease can be prevented in the first place. It does not accept that a normal health means the absence of disease. In focuses on education and the awareness levels of an individual and the community and tries to educate its individuals about the preventive aspects. Although patients of amoebic gastroenteritis or worm infestations can be easily cured with drugs, they can be simply prevented by teaching the individuals to wash hands regularly and before eating. The social model will also try to remedy the causative factors such as inadequate system for garbage and excreta disposal, poverty leading to a lack of access to soap and water and unhygienic cultural practices.

Cost-effectiveness - Since the social model attempts to remedy multiple factors like psychological, cultural and environmental, initially it appears as if this may require substantial investments in terms of infrastructure. Whereas, the medical model focuses only on an individual who can be conventionally treated at a much lesser cost. However, in the long term, this may not be so. A malaria control programme does not simply include the administration of antimalarial dugs and symptomatic management of cases. It will encompass building mosquito proof residential complexes, filling up of open water ditches and introduction of larva eating fishes among others.

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