BMJ  2005;330:419 (19 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7488.419

Letter

Biomedical models and healthcare systems

New model will be useful if it alters allocation of resources

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Wade and Halligan's new model will be useful if it encourages alternative ways of managing so called functional illnesses.1 Take the example of low back pain as a condition where context is all important.


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  		Proposed model of illness ( BMJ 2004;329: 1398-401[Free Full Text])

 
Patients with typical mechanical low back pain aggravated by prolonged standing will have a serious problem if, say, they work as a hairdresser but not if they have an office job. Thus their occupation rather than the disease will probably determine whether they seek medical attention. The new model implies that changing the context (suggesting the patient change jobs) is an equally valid way of managing the problem as looking for a "cure" for the low back pain. However, the model will be of real benefit only if policy makers transfer resources from diagnostic and treatment modalities to rehabilitative, educative, and . . . [Full text of this article]

Ellen S Wright, general practitioner

Vanbrugh Hill Health Centre, London SE10 9HQ e.s.wright@talk21.com


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Relevant Article

Do biomedical models of illness make for good healthcare systems?
Derick T Wade and Peter W Halligan
BMJ 2004 329: 1398-1401. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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