PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION

Health Promotion and Public Health Intervention



Health Promotion and Public Health Intervention

Models assumptions and paradigms of health and illness

The definition of health (and illness) which classic western medicine gave seemed very superficial. Simply said? it stated that illness is when something is not “okay” with the body (or soul) and if no illness is at hand? one is healthy. This process of development does not by nature follow an even and regular rhythm but is subject to take place in smaller or larger steps. (Anon? 2002? 171-8)Such phases of development are an expression of health. Often these phases will be subjectively experienced as phases of uncertainty or feeling ill at ease (“dis-ease”) or even as illness? (be it expressed physically? socially? psychologically or on a more spiritual level). However? these phases are always an expression of a positive life force? which strives towards continual development and evolving? and they are by nature transient. (Stewart? 1999? 8-234)

Instead? one would have to consider them as an important and integral part of health. This may seem very paradox at first. Yet? it does make sense if one reflects upon it for a moment. This holistic perspective brings forth an understandable meaning to the typical children's diseases? which in a sense provide an essential building block for the development of a child. (Anon? 2002? 171-8)Likewise? painful experiences or crisis of a person's life? which may be manifested in physical illness or disease? become recognizable? when retroflected as an important time of change and as a positive occurrence in a person's life. Health is traditionally equated to the absence of disease. A lack of a fundamental pathology was thought to define one's health as good? whereas biologically driven pathogens and conditions would render an individual with poor health and the label "diseased". However? such a narrow scope on health limited our understanding of wellbeing? thwarted our treatments efforts? and perhaps more importantly? suppressed prevention measures. (Anon? 2002? 171-8)

Fig 1: BioPsychoSocial Model of Health and Illness Venn Diagram

Many institutions and medical doctors have managed to incorporate a holistic view of health in sound medical application? primarily based on the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model of Health and Illness. The concept of wellness is particularly stressed? where the state of being in good health based on the biopsychosocial model is accompanied by good quality of life and strong relationships. George Engel introduced the major theory in medicine? the BPS Model. (Anon? 2002? 171-8) The model accounted for biological? psychological? and sociological interconnected spectrums? each as systems of the body. In fact? the model accompanied a dramatic shift in focus from disease to health? recognizing that psychosocial factors (e.g. beliefs? relationships? stress) greatly impact recovery the progression of and recuperation from illness and disease. "To provide a basis for understanding the determinants of disease and arriving at a rational treatments and patterns of health care? a medical model must also take into account the patient? the social context in which he lives and the complementary system devised by ...