Biomedical model of health Disadvantages:

 A complete state of physical, social and mental well- being and not  costly
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO 1946)  relies on the professional health care workers and technology
 It emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of individuals separately  does not promote good health or narrow view of health
from their lifestyle or living conditions.  not every condition can be treated
 It concentrates on the following:
o Disease- not the center of biomedical model
o Illness or disability
o Attempts to cure
 Has been dominant for many years
 Played a large role in prolonging life expectancy
 In this approach the physicians and hospitals are the real focus of
medicine or health

Aspects of the biomedical approach:

 Diagnosis- identification of the disease or illness through

physician’s observations of symptoms or through diagnostic tests
o Example: X-rays, CT scan, and blood tests
 Intervention- action taken to improve health
o example: medical treatment, hospitalization, prescription,
surgery

Advantages:

 it creates advances in technology and research

 many common problems can be effectively treated
 extends life expectancy
 improves quality of life
Role performance model
 Health is indicated by the ability to perform social roles.
 Role performance includes work, family and social roles, with
performance based on societal expectations.
 Illness would be the future to perform a person’s roles at the level of
others in society.
 This model is basis for work and school physical examination and
physician –excused absences.
 The sick role, in which people can be excused from performing their
social roles while they are ill, is a vital component of the role
performance model.
 Health is defined in terms of the individual's ability to fulfil social
roles, that is, to perform work.
 According to this model, People who can fulfil their roles are healthy
even if they appear clinically ill.
 It is assumed in this model that sickness is the inability to perform
one's work.
 A model of health, wellness, and illness that views health in
functional terms; here, if a person can function, he or she is
healthy; even if they have clinical illness. In this mode, sickness is
the inability to perform one's work role.
 In the role performance model, health is indicated by the ability to
perform social roles. Role performance includes work, family and
social roles, with performance based on societal expectations.
Illness would be the failure to perform a person's role at the level of
others in society. This model is the basis for work and school
physical examinations and physician-excused absences.