Essay #2 - Sociology of Medicine
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medical_sociology_chapter_1__2.pptxChapter 1
The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care
Sociology of Health, Illness, and Healthcare
Social causes and consequences of health, illness, and healthcare
Social forces affect:
Likelihood of health and illness.
Experience of illness.
Health care providers.
Health care system.
A Sociological Perspective Emphasizes
Social patterns over individual behavior
Public issues over personal troubles
Social groups and institutions over individuals
Power: Ability to get others to do what one wants
Sociologists Study
Who has power
How groups get power
Consequences of having or lacking power
Critical Sociologists
Emphasize sources and consequences of power relationships
Explore how social institutions and beliefs support existing power relationships
Question the basic structure of society
Consider: Power and the Critical Approach
What does this textbook mean by a critical approach? By power?
How does power affect health care delivery in the United States?
Two Approaches
Sociology in medicine
Sociology of medicine
Example: “patient noncompliance” vs. “health consumer choices”
A Brief History of Disease
The European Background
Epidemics ravage Europe
Pandemics diminish
Social factors and the decline in mortality
Disease in the New World
Colonists vs. Natives
The Epidemiological Transition
Evaluating Sources
Influential?
Selective?
Peer reviewed?
Random samples?
Controlled research?
Reputable and unbiased?
Chapter 2
The Social Sources of Modern Illness
Introduction to Epidemiology
Disease vs. Illness
Epidemiology: distribution of disease
Social epidemiology: distribution based on social rather than biological factors
Rate: proportion of population that experiences a circumstance
Types of Rates
Incidence Rate: new occurrences in a given period
Number of new cases in U.S. this year x 100,000
Population of U.S. this year
Prevalence Rate: total cases in a given period
Number living with disease in U.S. this year x 100,000
Population of U.S. this year
Age-adjusted Rate
More Epidemiological Terms
Morbidity
Mortality
Life expectancy
Incidence
Prevalence
Acute disease vs. chronic disease
New Rise in Infectious Disease
Drug-resistant diseases
Growth of cities
Globalization
Consider: The Emergence of HIV/AIDS
How have social factors and conditions contributed to the spread of HIV?
Is there a social policy that could reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS?
Main Causes of Deaths, 1900 and 2008
Preventing Premature Deaths
Primary Prevention: prevent illness altogether
Secondary Prevention: early detection and treatment
Tertiary Prevention: Treat established illnesses
Causes of Premature Death
Who are the manufacturers of illness? How could we focus upstream?
Tobacco
Diet, Exercise, and Obesity
Medical Errors
Alcohol
Bacteria and Viruses
Figure 2.1 Percentage of Americans Who Are Overweight or Obese
The Health Belief Model
Four beliefs determine likelihood that individuals will adopt a healthy behavior:
They are susceptible to a health problem
The problem is serious
Adopting preventative measures will reduce their risk
There are no significant barriers making if difficult for them to adopt these measures
Key Concepts: The Health Belief Model
Health Lifestyle Theory
Emphasizes group rather than individual behaviors
Health behaviors affected by:
Living conditions
Demographic circumstances
Cultural memberships
Key Concepts: Health Lifestyle Theory
Source: Cockerham (2005)
Social Stress as Underlying Cause of Illness
Stress: situations, emotions, and physical reactions
Chronic or acute
Responding to stress
Gender, race, class, and social stress
Consider: Social Networks
What are social networks?
How do they affect health?
Can you think of a way your health (or a friend’s/family member’s health) was positively or negatively affected by social networks?
