HLTA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Social Constructionism, Ottawa Charter For Health Promotion, Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences
Document Summary
Doctrine of specific aetiology (koch"s postulates x4 criteria) ill health is deviation from the norm, especially a normal range of measurable biological variables. Medical science held to be based on the principles of scientific neutrality, rational methods of science (values objectivity and neutrality) Decontextualizing: ignores significance of cultural and other contextual factors. Although modern medicine now recognizes that the body is not a machine, and that it is more than the sum of its parts, it is often still treated as such. Biomedicine and (medical) science are not value free unavoidably embedded in larger society. Need to focus on what facilitates health, not only on the causes disease. Assumes people are rational decision makers whose thoughts (cognitions) inform their actions. Ignores the material conditions of peoples lives that affect their health (socio economic status, etc. Assumes there is a direct link between knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.
