Two theories and a perspective on Health which you
need to understand and outline.
Medical Model
This model label’s a person with a diagnosis, patient
number and a set of symptoms rather than an individual.
My ear aches…
I’ll go to the
doctors today
I don’t care
which doctor I
just wanted it
sorted!!
It is usual in diagnosing short term acute health
problems, such as an ear infection or tooth abscess.
Health issues is ‘fixed’ and the person see’s the doctor
once and walks away with a solution.
Medical Model
A health professional, such as a doctor is always right
and I can trust that they are always right and can sort my
health issue. I don’t need to go anywhere else or take
responsibility myself. 
Quantity rather than quality
With the medical model we look at how many people can
have a health issue ‘resolved’ rather than the quality of life an
individual has. For example, smoking related lung cancer
takes priority over a person with schizophrenia’s experiences
which impact on their health.
Parallel with a machine
Reference; page 78 Applied AS (Folens) Angela Fisher et al
Person Feels ill
Car wont start
Goes to doctor
Calls garage
Person examined
Car examined
Diagnosis made
Fault found
Treatment offered
Part replaced
Feeling better
Back on the road
Social Model
With this perspective we say “hang on….. We’re all
unique individuals with a certain set of circumstances
that makes us all different”
“Health professionals should see us as people and
respect our differences and take our backgrounds and
experiences into consideration…. Better still… we can live
a healthier life style so we don’t need doctors…”
Socialisation experiences
Education
Role models
Personal experiences
Religious beliefs
Outlook on life
Income £
Diet
Housing
Employment
Fears
Peer pressure
Healthy life style
The social model looks at a person living a healthy life style…
• Healthy balanced diet
• No doctors needed
• Stress management
• Self help
• 8 hours sleep
• Positive thinking
• Adequate exercise
• Good housing
• Keep warm
• No drugs/alcohol/cig’s
• 2 litres of fluid
• Believe in oneself
• Appropriate friends
• Enjoy life
Which one is at fault?
An asthmatic child
Allergens reaction
Airways lining swells
and produces more
mucus >wheeze
Requires desensitised
steroid preventer
Requires ventolin
inhaler
A child who has
asthma wheezes
Passive smoking and
damp housing causes
wheezing
Move away from bad
environment
Gentle exercise
strengthens
respiratory system
Comparisons
The Medical Model
The Social Model
Individual service users are viewed
Personalised; a service user is
as a patient number, a labelled
viewed as a unique individual with a
diagnosis with no personalisation.
certain set of circumstances.
A medical condition is viewed as a
A medical condition is viewed as a
human that is broken and needs
fixing quickly. Focus on negatives.
consequence of poor social and
economic circumstances.
A doctor is view as ‘God-like’ and
Self-management of health on own
gives a diagnosis which is never
questioned.
terms, a healthy life style
adopted. Focus on positives.
A doctor prescribes medicine which
People look for alternatives to
is then taken. “Compliance means
‘doing as you’re told”
medicine, such as exercise, move
address, a change of thinking.
Disempowering; hands over health to
Empowering and individuals take
medical professionals and takes no
responsibility for their own health.
responsibility for their own health,
given support and services.
Suitable outlook for acute short
Suitable for long term illness
term illness/infections such as an
ear infection or tooth abscess.
management or mental health
illness treatments.
Historically used by the NHS
A newer perspective on health
Case study
Mrs Mistry use to live in Leicester City Centre where she used buses to get around easily and
lived amongst her own community where other people spoke Punjabi, like she did. She knows
learning English would have been a good idea and does know the basics, but she never
bothered to learn it well as she didn’t need to.
Mrs Mistry has two grown up daughters, one who is married and has a job and the other who is
in her last year at university and hasn’t lived at home for two years. They are very westernised
and she feels there is a big distance between them, she feels she has ‘an empty nest’.
She used to be a very busy mum, aunty and was the centre of all family events and celebrations.
She was respected and looked up to but the family rarely gets together as they’re all busy with
their own families and some have moved away with their jobs.
Her husband decided they should move out of the city centre to a nicer suburb and a much more
modern house. The area has better shops and the house is bigger and nicely decorated. He
works hard and felt he wanted to treat his wife with better living conditions.
Recently Mrs.Mistry has been comfort eating and has put on weight, her sleep pattern is poor as
she’s often up at night and stays in bed during the day. She is withdrawn and does not explain
how she feels to her husband as she is ashamed and embarrassed. She can’t explain why she
does the things she does and has never known anyone behave similarly to herself.
Mr.Mistry decides to take his wife to the doctors and tells the doctor about what’s been
happening from his point of view. He translates for her but changes some of what she says
slightly. The doctor diagnoses depression.
Mrs.Mistry was a
busy mum, aunty
and sister who
arranged all family
gatherings as well
as running a tidy
clean house.
Depression
Medical Model perspective
Husband takes her to the doctor because she hasn’t been herself for
some time; bad sleep pattern, binge eating, stays in bed, doesn’t shower
and cries a lot.
Recovery depends on the belief that what the doctor says is correct and
must be followed – dependent and disempowered.
Diagnosis – depression. There is a stigma and judgements made on
people with mental illness “labels”. Now feels she is the depressed old
Asian lady rather than Mrs. Mistry who is temporarily ill.
Doctor prescribes anti-depressants to take twice a day but they won’t
work for 6 weeks and are not guaranteed to lift her mood. There could be
side effects and the fear of the ‘unknown’ or dependency.
She needs to go to the chemist to collect her pills as her husband will be
at work. The prescription cost is £7.40
Remember; she can’t speak English very well.
Lately Mrs.Mistry
spent a lot of time
crying, staying in
bed, not
showering, binge
eating or not
eating and does
not talk to anyone
The doctor says go to a counselling sessions for 6 weeks, one hour a week
and talk about personal private feelings with a professional counsellor.
The GP is also able to give Mrs.Mistry a free 6 month membership to the
gym as exercise helps produce ‘happy’ chemicals in the body and can
lift a low mood. She wears a Sari and is overweight with a poor sense of
self-worth.
The doctor casual says that Mrs.Mistry should get a part-time job or do
some volunteering to get out the house and socialising.
Depression
Mrs.Mistry was a
busy mum, aunty
and sister who
arranged all family
gatherings as well
as running a tidy
clean house.
Social model perspective
Mrs.Mistry can read/research about the problems she is having using the NHS
direct website and other supportive informing specialist websites. The internet
is something she is fearful and confused about.
She can join a local support group for people with depression where they
meet once a fortnight for a drink and a catch up to share feelings so she is not
alone in her feelings.
She could also share her feelings and seek reassurance and love from her
daughters/family/friends/husband. She is afraid of judgements and being told
to get-her-act- together.
Mrs.Mistry could take a short walk once a day to the shops to buy food for the
evening meal.
Depression can be improved if a person feels they are worthwhile and can
achieve small tasks to build their self-esteem and pride – she could cook a
meal in the evening and watch a ‘Leaning English for Beginners’ DVD.
She could also buy a DVD with guidance to some basic exercises that can
help maintaining a good fitness level and reduce her weight to a better BMI.
This could make her feel in control, empowered and give her a good feeling.
Mrs.Mistry could go to the local community centre where they hold a Hindu
ladies social faith coffee morning to get together where she could take part
in activities or just sit and chat.
Lately Mrs.Mistry
spent a lot of time
crying, staying in
bed, not
showering, binge
eating or not
eating and does
not talk to anyone