Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness, The

by Weiss, Gregory L.; Lonnquist, Lynne E.

• ISBN13: 9780131928404
• ISBN10: 0131928406
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This reader-friendly book reflects important changes in health care and significant advancements in medical sociology - providing an in-depth overview of the field. It offers solid coverage of traditional topics with a keen focus on the current issues and public policy debates affecting this dynamic area of study.Analysis of a wide range of current issues includes the SARS epidemic, the sociology of mental health, the multidimensional consideration of stressors, the increasing problem of obesity, and contributions of animals to human health.For individuals interested in an overview of the health care system in the United States.

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
PART I Perspectives on the Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness
A Brief Introduction to the Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness	1	(11)
Definition of Medical Sociology	1	(1)
Historical Development of Medical Sociology	2	(4)
Sociology's Contribution to Understanding Health, Healing, and Illness	6	(3)
The Role of the Medical Sociologist in the Twenty-First Century	9	(1)
Summary	10	(1)
Health on the Internet	10	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	10	(1)
Discussion Question	10	(1)
References	11	(1)
The Development of Scientific Medicine	12	(22)
A Brief History of Medicine	13	(1)
Early Humans	13	(1)
The Egyptian Civilization	14	(1)
Greek and Roman Societies	14	(4)
The Medieval Era	18	(1)
Medicine in the Renaissance	19	(1)
Medicine from 1600 to 1900	20	(3)
The Ascendancy of Medical Authority in America	23	(6)
Perspectives on the Ascendancy of Medical Authority	29	(2)
Summary	31	(1)
Health on the Internet	31	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	31	(1)
Discussion Question	32	(1)
References	32	(2)
PART II The Influence of the Social Environment on Health and Illness
Social Epidemiology	34	(25)
The Work of the Epidemiologist	34	(2)
The Epidemiological Transition	36	(4)
Life Expectancy and Mortality	40	(4)
Infant Mortality	44	(4)
Maternal Mortality	48	(1)
Morbidity	48	(6)
Disability	54	(1)
Summary	55	(1)
Health on the Internet	56	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	56	(1)
Discussion Case	56	(1)
References	57	(2)
Society, Disease, and Illness	59	(28)
Etiology of Disease	59	(2)
The Interrelationship of Fundamental Causes and Proximate Risk Factors: The Case of Developing Countries	61	(1)
The Influence of Genetic Transmission on Disease and Illness	62	(1)
Cardiovascular Diseases	63	(4)
Cancer	67	(7)
HIV/AIDS	74	(4)
Alzheimer's Disease	78	(1)
Mental Illness	79	(4)
Summary	83	(1)
Health on the Internet	83	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	83	(1)
Discussion Case	84	(1)
References	85	(2)
Social Stress	87	(22)
Definition of Stress	87	(1)
Historical Development of the Stress Concept	87	(1)
A Model of Social Stress	88	(1)
Stressors	89	(6)
Appraisal of Stressors	95	(1)
Mediators of Stress: Coping and Social Support	95	(4)
Stress Outcomes	99	(1)
The Role of Social Class, Race, and Gender in Social Stress	99	(6)
Summary	105	(1)
Health on the Internet	105	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	105	(1)
Discussion Case	106	(1)
References	106	(3)
PART III Health and Illness Behavior
Health Behavior	109	(20)
The Concept of Health	109	(2)
Health Behavior	111	(1)
Describing Individual Health Behaviors	111	(7)
Explaining Health Behavior	118	(7)
Summary	125	(1)
Health on the Internet	125	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	126	(1)
Discussion Cases	126	(1)
References	127	(2)
Experiencing Illness and Disability	129	(24)
Stages of Illness Experience	129	(1)
Stage 1: Symptom Experience	129	(3)
Stage 2: Assumption of the Sick Role: Illness as Deviance	132	(5)
Stage 3: Medical Care Contact/Self-Care	137	(7)
Stage 4: Dependent-Patient Role	144	(1)
Stage 5: Recovery and Rehabilitation	145	(1)
Experiencing Chronic Illness, Impairment, and Disability	145	(4)
Summary	149	(1)
Health on the Internet	150	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	150	(1)
Discussion Question	150	(1)
References	151	(2)
PART IV Health Care Practitioners and Their Relationship with Patients
Physicians and the Profession of Medicine	153	(24)
The Profession of Medicine	153	(5)
The Social Control of Medicine	158	(7)
The Number, Composition, and Distribution of Physicians in the United States	165	(2)
Female Physicians	167	(3)
Physician Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction	170	(1)
Physician Impairment: Stresses and Strains of the Physician Role	171	(1)
Summary	172	(1)
Health on the Internet	173	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	173	(1)
Discussion Case	173	(1)
References	174	(3)
Medical Education and the Socialization of Physicians	177	(20)
The History of Medical Education	177	(2)
Modern Medical Education	179	(7)
The Medical School Experience: Attitude and Value Acquisition	186	(3)
The Medical School Experience: Stress	189	(2)
The Medical School Experience: Career Choices	191	(1)
Future Directions in U.S. Medical Education	192	(1)
Summary	193	(1)
Health on the Internet	194	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	194	(1)
Discussion Case	194	(1)
References	195	(2)
Nurses, Mid-Level Health Care Practitioners, and Allied Health Workers	197	(22)
Evolution of Nonphysician Health Care Practitioners	197	(3)
Nurses and the Field of Nursing	200	(7)
Mid-Level Health Care Practitioners	207	(3)
Allied Health Workers	210	(2)
The Health Care Team	212	(1)
Relationships Among Health Care Workers	213	(3)
The Changing Environment Among Health Care Workers	216	(1)
Summary	216	(1)
Health on the Internet	216	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	217	(1)
Discussion Question	217	(1)
References	217	(2)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine	219	(25)
The Meaning of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)	219	(1)
Scientific Medicine and Alternative Healing	220	(1)
Complementary and Alternative Healers	221	(2)
Chiropractic	223	(5)
Acupuncture	228	(3)
Spiritual Healing and Christian Science	231	(5)
Ethnic Folk Healing	236	(4)
Summary	240	(1)
Health on the Internet	240	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	240	(1)
Discussion Case	241	(1)
References	241	(3)
The Physician-Patient Relationship: Background and Models	244	(24)
Models of the Physician: Patient Relationship	244	(2)
Key Dimensions of the Physician-Patient Relationship	246	(9)
The Influence of Social Class, Race, and Symptomology on the Physician-Patient Relationship	255	(1)
The Influence of Gender on the Physician-Patient Relationship	256	(3)
Patient Satisfaction with Physicians	259	(2)
Patient Compliance with Medical Regimens	261	(2)
Summary	263	(1)
Health on the Internet	264	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	264	(1)
Discussion Case	264	(1)
References	265	(3)
Professional and Ethical Obligations of Physicians in the Physician-Patient Relationship	268	(18)
Truth-telling as an Issue	268	(4)
Confidentiality as an Issue	272	(5)
Obligation to Treat AIDS Patients	277	(5)
Summary	282	(1)
Health on the Internet	282	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	283	(1)
Discussion Cases	283	(1)
References	284	(2)
PART V The Health Care System
The Health Care System of the United States	286	(25)
Health Care Expenditures	286	(3)
Financing Health Care	289	(3)
America's Uninsured Population	292	(3)
Explaining the High Cost of Health Care	295	(4)
Cost Containment: DRGs, Rationing, and Managed Care	299	(6)
The Politics of Health Care Reform	305	(3)
Summary	308	(1)
Health on the Internet	308	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	308	(1)
Discussion Cases	309	(1)
References	309	(2)
Health Care Delivery	311	(21)
The Emergence of Freestanding Ambulatory Care Sites	311	(4)
The Flourishing of Managed Care Organizations: HMOs and PPOs	315	(4)
Emergence of the Modern Hospital	319	(9)
Home Health Care	328	(1)
Summary	329	(1)
Health on the Internet	329	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	330	(1)
Discussion Case	330	(1)
References	330	(2)
The Social Implications of Advanced Health Care Technology	332	(26)
Health Care and Technological Innovation	332	(1)
Health Care Technology	333	(5)
The Right to Refuse or Demand Advanced Health Care Technology	338	(8)
Organ Donation and Transplantation	346	(4)
New Reproductive Technologies	350	(4)
Summary	354	(1)
Health on the Internet	355	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	355	(1)
Discussion Case	356	(1)
References	356	(2)
Comparative Health Care Systems	358	(21)
Major Influences on Health Care Systems	358	(2)
Health Care Services in Developing and Industrialized Countries	360	(1)
Types of Health Care Systems	361	(1)
China	362	(4)
Russia	366	(3)
Canada	369	(4)
Great Britain	373	(2)
Common Challenges to Health Care Systems Around the World	375	(1)
Summary	376	(1)
Health on the Internet	376	(1)
Key Concepts and Terms	377	(1)
Discussion Questions	377	(1)
References	377	(2)
Photo Credits	379	(1)
Name Index	380	(6)
Subject Index	386