4P medical model – a new era of medical science

  The medical model is a way of thinking about medical problems such as health and disease. The medical model has been evolving since the ancient deistic medical model, the natural philosophical medical model, the mechanistic medical model and the biomedical model. In 1977, Engel, a professor of internal medicine at Rochester University, proposed the “biopsychosocial” model of medicine, which is respected by medical experts and practitioners.  However, three important strategic shifts are taking place in medical science today: upward shift of goals, downward shift of focus, and forward shift of gates.  The goal is to move up: from the simple diagnosis and treatment of diseases to the higher goal of maintaining and promoting health.  Downward shift of focus: from a hospital-based medical service model to a community, family and population-based health service and health management model.  Forward shift: from diagnosis and treatment of diseases to disease prevention, health education and health promotion.  The 4Ps are the abbreviation of four English words starting with P. The four Ps are: Personalized Medicine: to provide the most appropriate and targeted health care services according to the special health needs of different people and individuals.  Predictive Medicine: Based on the genetic and epigenetic backgrounds and lifestyles of different people and individuals, predicting their possible health problems and then proposing corresponding health care interventions.  Preventive Medicine: To propose strategies and treatment plans to prevent diseases before serious health problems and diseases occur, and to prevent diseases before they occur.  Participatory Medicine: Through public and community health education and health management, the public is fully mobilized to participate in health promotion, so as to achieve the greatest benefit with the least investment.  In the face of pancreatitis, you can, have the right and should do more.