George L. Engel's Biopsychosocial Model

As a medical student, it is apparent to me that we are constantly inundated with learning, be it physiology, anatomy, or biochemistry, but also at the forefront of our learning ought to be how to develop a compassionate approach to medicine and a commitment to the understanding of our patients. Doctors nowadays in the modern world are often perceived as brusque and indifferent, which are traits never to be envied in a physician. Galen believed that alongside all the scientific knowledge we are taught, that we should “add philosophy, especially ethics and logic in the broad sense, components which he would undoubtedly see as unduly neglected in modern times”. One of the most vital qualities of a physician is an interest in humanity and the ability
A clinician’s desire to help is integral to their compatibility to their profession. As doctors, we will not always be able to restore a patient to their full physical health but we will always be able to console and care for our patient’s mental wellbeing. In accordance with the biopsychosocial model we must always identify that an illness has biological, psychological and sociological dimensions, as stated by the founder of the model, George L Engel. He believed that “to provide a basis for understanding the determinants of disease and arriving at rational treatments and patterns of healthcare, a medical model must also take into account the patient, the social context in which he lives, and the complementary system devised by society to deal with the disruptive effects of illness, that is, the physician role and the healthcare system.” We should too endeavour to work successfully alongside other healthcare professionals as a team and be compassionate towards them along with our patients. We discovered communication will be key in our everyday work and that communication helps provide high quality
I learned to above all use compassion in treatment of patients, and to fully understand how much empathy and benevolence can help someone who is suffering. I unearthed how the biopsychosocial model works and how to apply it to my future practice of medicine. BH1002 taught me how communication is integral in order to being compassionate in my work and how in contrast a lack of communication can have a drastic and polarising impact. A standardized mechanism in the workplace, helps prevent errors made in handover or communication in general and allows all professional parties involved to have a regulated means of communication to abide by. Teamwork and trust are vital for providing a professional health care service. Listening and acting as a confidant for the patient too, is an effective mechanism of being compassionate. Also, technology should be used as an asset and not a hindrance to caring for the patient. Peabody said, “young graduates have been taught a great deal about the mechanism of disease, but very little about the practice of medicine- or, put it more bluntly, they are too “scientific” and do not know how to take care of patients”, I do believe that the advances in our scientific and medical knowledge has caused this to occur in the past, modules such