The biomedical model is mainly used to understand normal and abnormal functions from gene to phenotype, providing a basis for preventive intervention in human diseases (Carvalho et al., 2007). As an ethnomedical system, the model focuses on understanding the illness based on the cultural definition and the treatment approaches of the respective disorders based on cultural practices. The Biomedical model demonstrates human condition or disease that is necessary for drawing an informed understanding of the disease in the diagnosis process (Edberg, 2013). Unlike the ethnomedical systems that consider all those aspects of the disease, the biomedical model focus on diagnosing the disease hence not fit for the treatment approaches covered by ethnomedical procedures.
Most of the ethnomedical system approaches are based on cultural definitions and practices, unlike the biomedical model, which focuses on purely biological factors related to the existence of an illness. Also, the biomedical model is the leading modern way for health care as it involves natural approaches for diagnosing and treatment of diseases (Carvalho et al., 2007). Ethnomedical systems incorporate traditional medicine and treatment approaches that are easily influenced by cultural diversity. On the contrary, the biomedical model excludes environmental, psychological, and social influences and focuses on physical processes such as pathology and biochemistry of the disease.
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Also, the biomedical model does not consider the negotiation between a doctor and the patient in the diagnosis of a disease as it is in other ethnomedical systems. The rather biomedical model considers different scientific approaches, such as testing gene therapy, to diagnose and define preventive intervention of the identified diseases (Edberg, 2013). Also, the biomedical model is mainly applicable to modern healthcare facilities handling patients from different cultures. Contrastingly, ethnomedical systems depend on disease diagnosis and treatment approaches that are based on the cultural definition and cultural practices, respectively. Therefore, the biomedical model does not rely on the concept of culture to understand human behavior and health status, although traditional therapies are being incorporated into modern medical care.
References
Carvalho, G. S. D., Dantas, C., Rauma, A. L., Luzi, D., Geier, C., Caussidier, C., ... & Clément, P. (2007). Health education approaches in school textbooks of 14 countries: Biomedical model versus health promotion.
Edberg, M. C. (2013). Essentials of health, culture, and diversity: Understanding people, reducing disparities . Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
