The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The concept of health, as well as the concept of disease, is central in veterinary medicine. However, the definitions "health" and "disease" are not generally acknowledged by veterinarians. The aim of this study w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2006-11-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Online Access: | http://www.actavetscand.com/content/47/1/71 |
| _version_ | 1831613908348043264 |
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| author | Gunnarsson Stefan |
| author_facet | Gunnarsson Stefan |
| author_sort | Gunnarsson Stefan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The concept of health, as well as the concept of disease, is central in veterinary medicine. However, the definitions "health" and "disease" are not generally acknowledged by veterinarians. The aim of this study was to examine how the concepts "health" and "disease" are defined in veterinary textbooks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Veterinary textbooks in several disciplines were investigated, but only textbooks with explicit definitions of the concepts were selected for examination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty out of the 500 relevant books within veterinary medicine were written for non-veterinarians. Eight percent of the books had an explicit definition of health and/or disease. More frequently, textbooks written for non veterinarians did have definitions of health or disease, compared to textbooks written for professionals. A division of health definitions in five different categories was suggested, namely:</p> <p>1. Health as normality, 2. Health as biological function, 3. Health as homeostasis, 4. Health as physical and psychological well-being and 5. Health as productivity including reproduction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Few veterinary textbooks had any health or disease definition at all. Furthermore, explicit definitions of health stated by the authors seemed to have little impact on how health and disease are handled within the profession. Veterinary medicine would probably gain from theoretical discussions about health and disease.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T19:17:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11e8f3e5e67e4c788619d9f12e9d8608 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T19:17:48Z |
| publishDate | 2006-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-11e8f3e5e67e4c788619d9f12e9d86082022-12-21T20:56:05ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472006-11-014717110.1186/1751-0147-47-71The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicineGunnarsson Stefan<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The concept of health, as well as the concept of disease, is central in veterinary medicine. However, the definitions "health" and "disease" are not generally acknowledged by veterinarians. The aim of this study was to examine how the concepts "health" and "disease" are defined in veterinary textbooks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Veterinary textbooks in several disciplines were investigated, but only textbooks with explicit definitions of the concepts were selected for examination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty out of the 500 relevant books within veterinary medicine were written for non-veterinarians. Eight percent of the books had an explicit definition of health and/or disease. More frequently, textbooks written for non veterinarians did have definitions of health or disease, compared to textbooks written for professionals. A division of health definitions in five different categories was suggested, namely:</p> <p>1. Health as normality, 2. Health as biological function, 3. Health as homeostasis, 4. Health as physical and psychological well-being and 5. Health as productivity including reproduction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Few veterinary textbooks had any health or disease definition at all. Furthermore, explicit definitions of health stated by the authors seemed to have little impact on how health and disease are handled within the profession. Veterinary medicine would probably gain from theoretical discussions about health and disease.</p>http://www.actavetscand.com/content/47/1/71 |
| spellingShingle | Gunnarsson Stefan The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| title | The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| title_full | The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| title_fullStr | The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| title_short | The conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| title_sort | conceptualisation of health and disease in veterinary medicine |
| url | http://www.actavetscand.com/content/47/1/71 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gunnarssonstefan theconceptualisationofhealthanddiseaseinveterinarymedicine AT gunnarssonstefan conceptualisationofhealthanddiseaseinveterinarymedicine |