Hodges Health Career Model

Developed in the UK by Brian E. Hodges during the 1980s, Hodges' model is person-centred and situation based. The model combines two axes which create four care domains (figures 1 and 2 combined). The tool supports individuals or groups of people as they reflect on a problem, series of issues. Technically, Hodges model is a conceptual framework, a map on which concepts can be placed and if necessary related to each other.

The title of the model has incorporated care domains since 2002 to prevent confusion with websites purely career focused and people searching for 'career as a model'. Hence the title Hodges Health Career - Care Domains - Model and abbreviation h2cm.

Factors in Development

Academics provide tools, models that act as a memory jogger, guides for learners and experienced staff. Generic models encourage holistic practice directing the user to consider the patient as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. A model supports care staff when they are assessing a patient. Exposure of h2cm is limited to a website since 1997, a very small cadre of practitioners and several published articles (Adams, 1987; Hinchcliffe, 1989; Jones, 2004).

H2cm says nothing about the study of knowledge, but a great deal about the nature of knowledge is implied in the approach adopted by Brian Hodges. h2cm was created out of the need to meet four educational objectives:

• 1. To produce a curriculum development tool.
• 2. Help ensure holistic assessment and evaluation.
• 3. To support reflective practice.
• 4. To bridge the theory-practice gap.

Hodges' model has great potential outside health, social and pastoral care, overcoming many of the criticisms within Nursing models. For at least three decades the need for holistic care has been espoused and yet this objective still evades many services. Using information as as unifying concept h2cm can unify the mechanistic - humanistic and individual - group realms (Jones, 1996).

The images to the right show how the model can represent the key problems and issues of four potential user groups.

20th Century model - 21st Century relevance

Since h2cm’s formulation each of these objectives has grown in relevance. The 1980s may seem remote, but these problems are far from archaic as expansion of points 1-4 reveals. Student life is preparation for life-long learning. The curriculum is constantly under pressure. Despite decades of policy declarations, truly holistic care (combining physical, mental and pastoral care) remains elusive. The concept and practice of reflection swings like a metronome, one second seemingly de rigour, the moment next the subject of web based polls. Finally, technology is often seen as a way to make knowledge available to all practitioners; bridging the theory-practice gap through activities such as e-learning, governance and knowledge management.

The 21st century adds further challenges and complexity to items 1-4 above. Demographic change is shaping policy, as well as population pyramids. Globalisation and the role of economics are bringing home the lesson of just how interconnected, interdependent we are. The exponential growth in the volume of information we produce, begs the question of where the wisdom and values reside to effectively deploy knowledge and solve some of our 21st century scale problems.

Complex Problems - Transdisciplinary solutions

If problems today require interdisciplinary solutions, then tomorrow effective transdisciplinary approaches will be crucial. This is not pie-in-the-sky theorizing. Health and social care are no longer the sole preserve of the clinic or waiting lounge. As the media has shown in diet and younger people, SARS, and AIDs; health is a national and international concern. The environment also begs with increasing urgency for our attention. We are all linked, interdependent: vulnerable. Policy makers recognise the need to engage with people politically and engender personal responsibility. Citizenship is crucial in health and the environment.

Health, Environment & Democracy

The scholastic 3Rs alone are no longer sufficient to equip youngsters for the challenges that lie ahead. Visual literacy and creative, critical and reflective skills are also needed. Is there a generic model that could be taught globally, a basis for a general studies curriculum? Yes there is: but does h2cm possess the additional desirable properties in table 1? That is for you to decide…

Table 1

• disarms yet empowers
• is simple yet complex
• local yet global
• applies to individuals and populations
• is neutral or activist
• is able to represent and disseminate
• engages and educates
• and transcends culture, politics, gender, beliefs and ethnicity.

The ubiquity of information provides the scope to not only think out of the box, but in it as well? More than ever health, the environment and democracy are like pearls threaded on a fine cord called quality of life. If informatics can help integrate the vision and information is the clasp that unifies, what tools do we have to handle this most delicate operation?

See Also

Nursing model

H2CM website

The h2cm contains Brian Hodges original notes and content which explores the relevance of the model, the multi-contextual nature of health, informatics, consilience, interdisciplinarity, change and chaos, and visualization in the social sciences. There are four links pages that cover each knowledge - care domain. The authors are keen to hear from interested parties through the contact details provided.

References

Adams, T. (1987) Dementia is a family affair. Community Outlook, Feb, 7-8.

Hinchcliffe, S.M. (et al.) (1989) Nursing Practice and Health Care, 1st Edition only, London, Edward Arnold.

Jones, P. (1996) Humans, Information, and Science, Journal Advanced Nursing, 591-598.

Jones, P. (2004) Viewpoint: Can informatics and holistic multidisciplinary care be harmonised? British Journal of Healthcare Computing & Information Management, 21, 6, 17-18.

External Links

• Hodges Health Career - Care Domains - Model
• Chronology
• Aims & Objectives
• Interpersonal Domain Links
• Sciences Domain Links
• Sociology Domain Links
• Political Domain Links

--H2cm 23:52, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)