This New Metric For Health Could Revolutionize How We Treat Chronic Illnesses

© vice versa

Morbidity and mortality are two World Health Organization (WHO) global indicators of human health in which acute morbidity and mortality differ. These standards are necessary to help the population, but they will only fight diseases. Health can be measured in many ways.

There is now a third mystical variant called "Human Action" which turns away from death and pain and focuses on everyday life and how everyone can live their best life.

A paper published May 31 in the journal Frontiers in Science by researchers at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland explains why human activity is the missing X factor in public health.

What is the function of a person?

Researchers define human function as the combination of a person's abilities and environment. It asks questions about what the human body can do, what tools it needs, and how those tools fit into the human environment. While this approach explores human capabilities, it also focuses on access to the environment. Is the environment available to everyone for the tools they need to get the job done?

For example, a person with a spinal injury cannot walk. An electric wheelchair can be a tool to help a person get around. As the tool regained its mobility, so did its environment. If the environment is not suitable for an electric wheelchair, the person's function may be reduced for reasons unrelated to their health or ability. If a person's environment does not allow them to use a device such as a wheelchair or hearing aid, their safety will be affected.

Human activity is very important for well-being, according to the authors, and well-being is often synonymous with indicators of physical health. This does not take into account how different systems relate to each other.

“In healthcare, the typical definition of health has always been physical health, but in practice, people often worry about what they can do for health,” said Sarah Rubinelli, an assistant professor of health sciences at the university. Lucerne According to him, the emphasis has shifted from the qualities that a person possesses to those that allow him to act.

Where did this idea come from?

While the concept of accessibility is not new, according to Rubinelli, this normative concept of human functioning comes from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the World Health Organization's system for measuring health and disability. The IFF was founded in 2002 when co-author Jerome Pekenbock, Professor of Bioethical Philosophy at Queen's University, was among its developers.

How will this change healthcare?

Rubinelli says that bringing in work increases the overall vocabulary of healthcare professionals. This structure involves the integration of disparate health systems into a single patient-centered mission.

In other words, health isn't just about cholesterol levels and visuals; This is how you translate information into skills and experience.

“In the case of work, you ask the person: “What do you want to do?” "What is your goal?" Public health is not only about reducing morbidity and symptoms, but also about integrating people into their environment.

More broadly, the authors argue that a combination of human action can better support the United Nations' third sustainable development goal: health and well-being. Human action, according to Robinelli, if used successfully, can become the path to human progress.

Lipomas in Dogs: Fine Needle Aspiration at the Vet