Fundamental interventions: How clinicians can address the fundamental causes of disease

AD Reich, HB Hansen, BG Link - Journal of bioethical inquiry, 2016 - Springer
AD Reich, HB Hansen, BG Link
Journal of bioethical inquiry, 2016Springer
In order to enhance the “structural competency” of medicine—the capability of clinicians to
address social and institutional determinants of their patients' health—physicians need a
theoretical lens to see how social conditions influence health and how they might address
them. We consider one such theoretical lens, fundamental cause theory, and propose how it
might contribute to a more structurally competent medical profession. We first describe
fundamental cause theory and how it makes the social causes of disease and health visible …
Abstract
In order to enhance the “structural competency” of medicine—the capability of clinicians to address social and institutional determinants of their patients’ health—physicians need a theoretical lens to see how social conditions influence health and how they might address them. We consider one such theoretical lens, fundamental cause theory, and propose how it might contribute to a more structurally competent medical profession. We first describe fundamental cause theory and how it makes the social causes of disease and health visible. We then outline the sorts of “fundamental interventions” that physicians might make in order to address the fundamental causes.
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