The World Health Organisation 1955 (WHO) describes heath as “Not the mere absence of disease but total physical, mental and social wellbeing”. interactionists would argue that if health consists in the absence of disease, people could be seen as being healthy if they do not have a disease. This would be irrespective of how they feel and whether they considered themselves to be healthy. The problem with this view of health is that it assumes that there is a norm for all bodies. It also tends to rely upon a diagnosis being made, most probably by a member of the medical profession.
When looking at this lady, we need to understand holistically the implications this has on her health, well being and everyday way of life. According to the World Health Organisation in 1948, the term Health means: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (Callahan D, 1973). This essay will cover the impacts this could have to the patient as well as one aspect of Sociology, in this instance Functionalism and one aspect of Psychology; in this case I have chosen Humanism. The aim of this essay will be to explore these theories and relate them to my case study.
The Influence of The Structural Factor of Socio-Economic class on Health “Social class or socioeconomic status is the strongest predictor of health, disease causation and longevity in medical sociology” (Giddens & Sutton 2009 pg 407). This essay aims to explore the influence of the structural factor of socio economic class on health. It will begin with the previously used model known as The Registrar Generals Classification System (Giddens 2009) and then today’s current model known as The Socioeconomic Classification System (Giddens 2009). It will discuss how social class shapes our lives as well as our, environment, educational needs, living and working conditions which all contribute to health (Graham 2007). It will touch on sociological theories and key reports such as The Black Report (1980), The Health Divide (1987), The Acheson Report (1998) and The Marmot Report (2010) these will explain the impact of what does influence health and why.
Health care professionals can help bridge this gap, by taking the autonomy of adapting and setting standards and practices in offices, and with consumers. This can be a model to help other professionals bridge the communication gap in health care. References Block, D. (2003). The Social Turn in Second Lanuguage Acquisition. Edinburg: Edinburg University Press.
The Ottawa charter describes Health promotion in a broad focus on health including education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of client’s participation to influence on his or her own care and outcome. Health Promotion in its core focuses in advocacy for health, equality of health, and participation from all those involved including the patient for achieving health and well-being. Health promotion takes a holistic approach to health and addresses health inequities to lessen negative impacts arising from determinants of health. (WHO, 1986, p. 1). Relational Practice is being mindful of your own actions, environment, and situations.
HERITAGE PAPER HERITAGE PAPER Stephann Bertrand NRS 429V Family Health Promotion July 22nd, 20012 People’s health is influenced by culture and beliefs (Eldeman, & Mandle, 2010). Culture is the manner people live which shapes their health. Heritage denotes something immaterial, a custom that is passed from one generation to another such as routine used to guard health, sustain health, and re-establish health. In order to be familiar with one’s personal beliefs and health customs, heritage assessment is utilized. However, in dealing with people, ethnicity plays an imperative function (Winkelman, 2001).
Holistic Medicine believes in the optimal acquisition of all these aspects of life. This system of health care refutes the separation of mind and body as considered and advocated in the traditional medicine. Holistic Medicine looks at mind, body and spirit as sub-parts, which form the person; a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, a whole (person) made up of its parts (mind, body and spirit) is greater in value than the individual sum of these parts. The Holistic Medicine intends to restore health and wellness to the person as a whole, rather than rectifying the diseased part alone.
This is also said to have a significant impact both on peoples’ health status and mortality rates. Primary health care services will focus on better health for a population, and actively work to reduce health inequalities between different groups. The Treaty of Waitangi is a key document of Maori health which states that the Crown has an obligation to ensure Maori have a health status which is at least equal to that of non-Maori (WAVE, 2001). Unfortunately this is not currently the case. The mortality rate caused by potentially preventable
The Public health system is founded on “prevention of disease and promotion of the health of a population” by means of evidence based and socially accepted methods as stated in the Community Health and Wellness edition 4. Public health care is based on principles of cultural sensitivity, accessibility, community participation and intersectional collaboration that threads in very well with practitioners of naturopathy’s manner towards health care. Naturopathy otherwise known, as complimentary medicine is a method of healing that employs various lifestyle changes to gain optimal health. A naturopath believes that “good health involves more than just a remedy”. If we want to live long, joyful, happy lives we must endeavour to re-establish the proper relationship between ourselves – The whole body and mind – and nature in order to empower an individual to reach their highest level of health (Dr H.C.A Vogel, 1990).
Models of Health According to the World Health Organisation, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (World Health Organisation, 2011) There are two main models of health which reflect different perspectives. These models are known as the social model of health and the medical model of health. The medical model of health focuses more on the cure for an illness, whereas the social model of health concentrates on the origins of the illness rather than the cure such as class, gender and ethnicity. (HSC, 2009) In the medical model of health, the main focus is on a person functioning correctly physically and defines bad health and illness as the presence of disease. The medical model looks at the body as a machine, where if it were to break down, a doctor would take on the role of an engineer and attempt to fix it.