Introduction to Medical Sociology.pptVIP

Introduction to Medical Sociology Dr Catherine Heffernan, Consultant in Public Health ? 2011 Outline of Talk General introduction to Sociology Introduction to Medical Sociology Medical Sociology Public Health Focus on medical sociology topics: Illness behaviour lay experiences Health and social inequalities Social construction of illness and medical knowledge Social Capital Thinking Sociologically! Macro Level Organisations, institutions, social structure, culture, social environment, access to services Measured by quantitative methods, socio-historical research Meso Level Social Interactions, social capital, cultural capital Measured by mathematical modelling, social network analysis, discriminant analysis Micro Level Individuals, social interactions Measured by qualitative methods Thinking Sociologically! Making healthy choices: If people know that they should be eating 5 a day yet don’t, what is stopping them? If a woman knows she should breastfeed but doesn’t, what are the factors that are preventing her from breastfeeding? If individuals know they should be using a condom to protect themselves against STIs but aren’t, what are the factors that are preventing them from exercising their knowledge? Schools of Thought There are a number of schools of thought within Sociology Schools relevant to Medical Sociology Functionalism (though now not popular) Social Constructivism Social Interactionalists (‘Chicago School)’ Risk Thesis Medical Sociology Medical sociology (sociology of health illness) is concerned with all those aspects of contemporary social life which impinge upon well-being throughout the life-course. Sociology of Medicine Theory orientated research Examines medicine with sociological questions and uses sociological concepts E.g. studies of institutions, health inequalities, professions Sociology in Medicine Problem orientated research Uses sociological perspectives and knowledge to investigate medically orientated questions That is, solve medical