Final answer:
Arthur Kleinman distinguished between 'disease' as a biological abnormality and 'illness' as the sociocultural experience of a health condition. Kleinman's explanatory model urges health care providers to include patients' cultural perspectives in treatment plans. This distinction is essential for understanding and addressing a patient's total health experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arthur Kleinman made a significant distinction between the concepts of disease and illness, as two components of sickness. Disease refers to a biological abnormality that affects an individual's physical structure or function. On the other hand, illness refers to the individual's sociocultural experience of their health condition, influenced by their culture and society's perception of their health status.
This distinction highlights that while disease is the medical condition itself, illness is how the patient experiences and understands their health issue in the context of their cultural background and social interactions. Furthermore, the concept of malady encompasses disease, illness, and sickness, and the social perception of sickness affects a person's social standing and how they are treated within their community. Kleinman's explanatory model encourages health care providers to consider patients' beliefs and cultural viewpoints when devising treatment plans.