ABSTRACT
With thorough coverage of inequality in health care access and practice, this leading textbook has been widely acclaimed by teachers as the most accessible of any available. It introduces and integrates recent research in medical sociology and emphasizes the importance of race, class, gender, and sexuality throughout.
This new edition leads students through the complexities of the evolving Affordable Care Act. It significantly expands coverage of medical technology, end-of-life issues, and alternative and complementary health care—topics that students typically debate in the classroom. While the COVID-19 pandemic emerged after this edition of the text was originally submitted, material has been added in Chapters 3, 10, and 13 about it. Many new text boxes and enhancements in pedagogy grace this new edition, which is essential in the fast-changing area of health care.
New to this edition:
- More text boxes relating the social aspects of medicine to students’ lives.
- Expanded coverage leading students through the complex impacts of the ACA and health care reform.
- Greater emphasis on sexual minority health and LGBTQ+ persons’ experiences in the health care system.
- Expanded coverage of medical technology, end-of-life issues, and alternative and complementary health care.
- "Health and the Internet" sections are updated and renovated to create more interactive student assignments.
- New end-of-chapter lists of terms, with key terms as flash cards on the companion website.
- An updated instructor’s guide with test bank.
Preface
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER ONE
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH, HEALING, AND ILLNESS
Definition of Medical Sociology
Historical Development of Medical Sociology
Sociology’s Contribution to Understanding Health, Healing, and Illness
The Role of the Medical Sociologist in the Twenty-First Century
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Questions
Glossary
References
CHAPTER TWO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC MEDICINE
A Brief History of Medicine
Early Humans
Four Ancient Civilizations
Greek and Roman Societies
The Medieval Era
Medicine in the Renaissance
Medicine from 1600 to 1900
The Ascendancy of Medical Authority in America
Perspectives on the Ascendancy of Medical Authority
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Question
Glossary
References
CHAPTER THREE
SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
The Work of the Epidemiologist
The Epidemiological Transition
Life Expectancy and Mortality
Infant Mortality
Maternal Mortality
Morbidity
Disability
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Cases
Glossary
References
CHAPTER FOUR
SOCIETY, DISEASE, AND ILLNESS
The Social Etiology of Disease
The Interrelationship of Proximate Risk Factors and Fundamental Causes: The Case of Developing Countries
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Alzheimer’s Disease
Mental Illness
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER FIVE
SOCIAL STRESS
Definition of Stress
Historical Development of the Stress Concept
A Model of Social Stress
Stressors
Appraisal of Stressors
Mediators of Stress: Coping and Social Support
Stress Outcomes
The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Race, Sexual Orientation, and Gender in Social Stress
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER SIX
HEALTH BEHAVIOR
The Concept of Health
Health Behavior
Describing Individual Health Behaviors
Explaining Health Behavior
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Cases
Glossary
References
CHAPTER SEVEN
EXPERIENCING ILLNESS AND DISABILITY
Stages of Illness Experience
Stage 1: Symptom Experience
Stage 2: Assumption of the Sick Role—Illness as Deviance
Stage 3: Medical Care Contact/Self-Care
Stage 4: Dependent-Patient Role
Stage 5: Recovery and Rehabilitation
Experiencing Chronic Illness and Disability
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Questions
Glossary
References
CHAPTER EIGHT
PHYSICIANS AND THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE
The Profession of Medicine
The Social Control of Medicine
The Number, Composition, and Distribution of Physicians in the United States
Women Physicians
Changes in the Physician’s Workplace
Physician Satisfaction and Physician Impairment
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER NINE
MEDICAL EDUCATION AND THE SOCIALIZATION OF PHYSICIANS
The History of Medical Education
Modern Medical Education
The Medical School Experience: Attitude and Value Acquisition
The Medical School Experience: Stress
The Medical School Experience: Career Choices
Future Directions in Medical Education in the United States
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER TEN
NURSES, ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS, AND ALLIED HEALTH WORKERS
Evolution of Nurses, Advanced Practice Providers, and Allied Health Workers
Contemporary Nurses and the Field of Nursing
Advanced Practice Providers
Allied Health Workers
The Health Care Team
Relationships among Health Care Workers
The Changing Environment among Health Care Workers
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Question
Glossary
References
CHAPTER ELEVEN
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
The Meaning of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Scientific Medicine and Alternative Healing
Complementary and Alternative Healers
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Spiritual Healing and Christian Science
Ethnic Folk Healing
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE PHYSICIAN–PATIENT RELATIONSHIP: BACKGROUND AND MODELS
Models of the Physician–Patient Relationship
Key Dimensions of the Physician–Patient Relationship
The Current Move to Patient-Centered
Care
The Influence of Race, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and Gender on the Physician–Patient Relationship
Patient Satisfaction with Physicians
Patient Adherence with Medical Regimens
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS OF PHYSICIANS IN THE PHYSICIAN–PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
The Approach of Medical Ethics
Truth-Telling as an Issue
Confidentiality as an Issue
Obligation to Treat Patients with Highly Contagious Diseases
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Cases
Glossary
References
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES
Rating the Health Care System of the United States
The Health Care System of the United States
The Financing of Health Care in the United States
Explanations for the High Cost of American Medicine
America’s Uninsured Population Prior to the ACA
Historical Efforts to Reform the Health Care System
Health Care Reform of 2010: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Hospitals
Freestanding Ambulatory and Surgical Sites
Nursing Homes
Hospices
Home Health Care
Summary
Health Care on the Internet
Discussion Case
Glossary
References
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY
Societal Control of Technology
Health Care Technology
The Right to Refuse or Demand Advanced Health Care Technology
Organ Donation and Transplantation
Assisted Procreation
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Cases
Glossary
References
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
COMPARATIVE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS
Major Influences on Health Care Systems
Health Care Services in Developing Countries
Types of Health Care Systems
China
Canada
England
Russia
Common Challenges to Health Care Systems Around the World
Summary
Health on the Internet
Discussion Questions
Glossary
References
List of Images
List of Figures
Name Index
Subject Index
