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Differences between the concepts of illness and disease - Coggle Diagram
Differences between the concepts of illness and disease
Definition of health according to WHO, the health paradigm concept, health indicators, and principles of healthy living (WHO)
Wellbeing & Mental Health
Wellbeing = feeling good & functioning well
Includes:
Emotional wellbeing
Social relationships
Sense of meaning & purpose
Mental health = integral to overall health
Mental & physical health are interconnected
Health involves:
Adaptation
Resilience
Ability to self-manage
Health Indicators (WHO)
Used to measure population health
Physical health indicators:
Life expectancy
Mortality & morbidity rates
Disease prevalence/incidence
Mental & social indicators:
Mental wellbeing scores
Quality of life measures
Health system indicators:
Access to healthcare
Preventive service coverage
Oral health status
Health Paradigm Concept
Shift in understanding of health
Medical Model
Health = absence of disease
Focus on diagnosis & treatment
Reactive, illness-centred
Biopsychosocial / Health Promotion Model
Health influenced by:
Biological factors
Psychological factors
Social & environmental factors
Emphasises:
Prevention
Health promotion
Participation in society
Ottawa Charter (1986):
Health = resource for everyday life
Definition of Health (WHO, 1948)
Health = complete physical, mental & social wellbeing
Not merely absence of disease or infirmity
Health linked to wellbeing & quality of life
Health as a human right
Principles of Healthy Living (WHO)
Health promotion & prevention
Healthy behaviours:
Balanced nutrition
Physical activity
Good oral hygiene
Avoidance of harmful substances
Equity & access to healthcare
Health education & community participation
Supportive environments
Reorientation of health services toward prevention
What is meant by health and illness?
Dental Caries Experience
Not always painful
Early stage: enamel demineralisation, no symptoms
Pain appears only when:
Dentin or pulp is involved
Disease is advanced
Healthcare Professionals’ View (Disease)
Dental caries = biomedical disease
Diagnosed through clinical examination
Disease can exist without illness
Emphasis on:
Early detection
Prevention
Regular dental visits
Parents’ Perception (Illness)
Illness = pain or discomfort
No toothache → child seen as healthy
Early caries are asymptomatic
Health = ability to function normally
Key Difference
Community focuses on illness (symptoms)
Professionals focus on disease (pathology)
Result: delayed care & low preventive visits
The concept of illness is not perceived in the same way by healthcare providers and the general public. What is meant by this statement?
Healthcare providers:
Illness = clinical disease
Based on objective findings
Dental caries present → child is ill
Caries:
Chronic
Progressive
Can exist without pain
Untreated caries:
Infection
Pain
Poor quality of life
General Public / Parents:
Illness = feeling unwell
Based on symptoms
Child considered healthy if:
No toothache
Can eat normally
Can play & go to school (normal daily activities)
Dentist visit only when:
Severe pain appears
Non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases
Communicable Diseases (CDs)
Cause: Infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites).
Transmission: Spread directly or indirectly from person to person, animal, or environment.
Nature: Often acute, with rapid onset.
Examples: Influenza, Tuberculosis, COVID-19.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Cause: Combination of genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors.
Transmission: Not transmissible between people.
Nature: Often chronic, with slow progression and long duration.
Examples: Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Dental caries, Cancers.
Relation to case
Dental caries = Non-Communicable Disease
Primarily caused by modifiable risk factors → ex: high sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene NOT by transmission from another person.
High consumption of sugary drinks = direct behavioral risk factor → NCD (caries)
Explanation of parent’s behavior
Neglect of prevention and early management → because caries develops slowly without immediate pain
What are the implications of the concepts of health and illness in dental diseases?
Health
Definition and Concept
Not merely absence of disease
State of overall physical, psychological, and social well-being
Ability to function comfortably, adapt to daily life, and participate in society
Oral health is inseparable from general/systemic health
Implications
Holistic dental care
Address comfort, function, aesthetics, and quality of life
Not only treat cavities/pathology
Integration with general healthcare
Collaboration between dentists and medical professionals
Recognize links between oral diseases and systemic conditions
Prevention & health promotion focus
Fluoride use
Oral hygiene education
Diet control
Early screening
Community prevention programs
Policy & service design
Oral health as a public health priority
Population-based programs
Reduce inequalities in access to care
Key Characteristics
Multidimensional (physical + psychological + social)
Dynamic and functional
Focus on well-being and quality of life
Oral health integrated with systemic health
Illness
Defintiion and Concept
Patient’s subjective experience of a health problem
How individuals:
perceive symptoms
interpret their condition
assign meaning to illness
Influenced by psychological, social, and cultural factors
Shapes emotions, behaviours, and care-seeking decisions
Implications
Illness perceptions drive behaviour
Beliefs about causes, seriousness, timeline, controllability
Influence care-seeking, adherence, self-care, recovery
Often seen as acute & controllable
Patients delay prevention
Seek treatment only when pain occurs
Leads to episodic and late dental visits
Socioeconomic & cultural influences
symptom recognition
interpretation
timing of help-seeking
Lived experience & stigma
Pain and discomfort
Embarrassment about appearance/breath
Emotional distress
Financial burden
Need for empathetic, patient-centred, destigmatising care
Key Characteristics
Subjective and patient-centred
Based on symptoms, beliefs, perceptions
Influenced by psychological, social, cultural context
Determines behaviour and coping responses