Health Illness And Society

Health, Illness, and Society, Updated Second Edition provides a comprehensive yet concise introduction to medical sociology. In his accessible style, Steven Barkan covers health and illness behaviors, the social determinants of health problems, the health professions and health care system in the U.S., and how the U.S. system compares to that of other countries. The updated second edition adds a new chapter, “The COVID-19 Pandemic,” which highlights several ways in which the pandemic exhibits health and health behavior disparities resulting from social inequalities and the deficiencies of the U.S. health system. The book also critically examines the achievements and limitations of the Affordable Care Act and discusses efforts of the Trump administration to weaken the ACA. Each chapter opens with learning questions to guide the student and “Health and Illness in the News” stories that apply each chapter’s contents to contemporary events. Chapter summaries reinforce key ideas and “Give it Some Thought” boxes emphasize critical thinking. New to the Updated Second Edition New Chapter 14, “The COVID-19 Pandemic,” discusses several ways in which the pandemic reveals health and health behavior disparities New data on medical students and faculty, sexual harassment in medical school, and medical school debt provide students with a deeper understanding of the issues facing doctors New health care data on peer nations and discussion of health and health care rankings of U.S. women provide a critical examination of the quality and cost of health care in the U.S. versus its peer nations Enhanced examination of health insurance status and surprise medical billing, updated survey data on health care costs, and a discussion of high deductibles emphasize the patient financial burden created by a private system of medicine

Author is a leading researcher & teacher of med. sociology Medical Sociology has become firmly established in US. Each chapter draws on 'classic' and up-to-date research Draws on contemporary ideas such as feminisim and social construction Author has published widely and is well respected in his field Detailed, critical analysis of recent research in Medical Sociology

Originally published in 1987 this textbook is a comprehensive introduction to the rapidly developing field of medical geography. It illustrates the ideas, methods and debates that inform contemporary approaches to the subject, demonstrating the potential of a social and environmental approach to illness and health. The central theme is the need to reject an exclusively biological approach to health. The authors examine both the geography of health care and outline a selection of health service planning initiatives in both North America and Europe.

This 1998 book contains historical essays about how diseases change their meaning.

"Presenting a theoretical model of the social process of "emerging" illness, the volume's introductory chapter identifies critical factors that shape different trajectories toward the construction of public health priorities. Through case studies of individual diseases and analyses of public awareness campaigns and institutional responses, later chapters provide important insights into the reasons why some illnesses receive more attention and funding than others."--Jacket.

What counts as health or ill health? How do we deal with the fallibility of our own bodies? Should illness and disease be considered simply in biological terms, or should considerations of its emotional impact dictate our treatment of it? Our understanding of health and illness had become increasingly more complex in the modern world, as we are able to use medicine not only to fight disease but to control other aspects of our bodies, whether mood, blood pressure, or cholesterol. This collection of essays foregrounds the concepts of health and illness and patient experience within the philosophy of medicine, reflecting on the relationship between the ill person and society. Mental illness is considered alongside physical disease, and the important ramifications of society's differentiation between the two are brought to light. Health, Illness and Disease is a significant contribution to shaping the parameters of the evolving field of philosophy of medicine and will be of interest to medical practitioners and policy-makers as well as philosophers of science and ethicists.

Sharp, bold and engaging, this book provides a contemporary account of why medical sociology matters in our modern society. Combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, and applying the pragmatic demands of policy, this timely book explores society′s response to key issues such as race, gender and identity to explain the relationship between sociology, medicine and medical sociology. Each chapter includes an authoritative introduction to pertinent areas of debate, a clear summary of key issues and themes and dedicated bibliography. Chapters include: • social theory and medical sociology • health inequalities • bodies, pain and suffering • personal, local and global. Brimming with fresh interpretations and critical insights this book will contribute to illuminating the practical realities of medical sociology. This exciting text will be of interest to students of sociology of health and illness, medical sociology, and sociology of the body. Hannah Bradby has a visiting fellowship at the Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, King′s College London. She is monograph series editor for the journal Sociology of Health and Illness and co-edits the multi-disciplinary journal Ethnicity and Health.