“What distinguishes the text is up to date and comprehensive coverage. It really covers all the points you wish to address in an undergraduate medical sociology class.”
-William Haas, University of North Carolina at Asheville
“Comprehensive coverage of all necessary topics.”
-Dr. Robert D. Ruth, Davidson College
“The book is written in a clear, didactic style which is appropriate to a textbook. I find the writing to be exceptionally clear and straightforward. There is no excessive jargon or overly complex sentence structures. In my view, it is one of the most readable texts I’ve used in any of my courses.”
-Eldon Wegner, University of Hawaii at Manoa
“The charts and diagrams are a significant addition to demonstrating what is going on in the text.”
-William Haas, University of North Carolina at Asheville
“The book is effective in demonstrating the richness of the field of medical sociology in addressing important social and organizational issues in health care.”
-Eldon Wegner, University of Hawaii at Manoa
“The textbook is impressive with its solid theoretical grounding in sociological theory generally and medical sociology in particular. This is a high quality accomplishment.”
-Diane Shinberg, University of Memphis
“The chapters are very well-organized, typically beginning with the basic descriptions of the issues and of fundamental concepts before moving to more detailed descriptions.”
-Eldon Wegner, University of Hawaii at Manoa
“The authors succeed in providing a broad overview of seminal and current sociological research within medical sociology.”
-Diane Shinberg, University of Memphis
Preface
PART I: PERSPECTIVES ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH, HEALING, AND ILLNESS
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
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Question
References
CHAPTER TWO: The Development of Scientific Medicine
A Brief History of Medicine
Early Humans
The Egyptian Civilization
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
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Question
References
PART II : THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ON HEALTH AND ILLNESS
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
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER FOUR: Society, Disease, and Illness
The Interrelationship of Fundamental Causes and Proximate Risk Factors: The Case of Developing Countries
The Influence of Genetic Transmission on Disease and Illness
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Alzheimer's Disease
Mental Illness
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
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 Social Class, Race, and Gender in Social Stress
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
PART III : HEALTH AND ILLNESS BEHAVIOR
CHAPTER SIX: Health Behavior
The Concept of Health
Health Behavior
Describing Individual Health Behaviors
Explaining Health Behavior
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Cases
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, Impairment, and Disability
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Question
References
PART IV: HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PATIENTS
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
Female Physicians
Physician Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction
Physician Impairment: Stresses and Strains of the Physician Role
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
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 U.S. Medical Education
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER TEN: Nurses, Mid-Level Health Care Practitioners, and Allied Health Workers
Evolution of Nonphysician Health Care Practitioners
Nurses and the Field of Nursing
Mid'Level Health Care Practitioners
Allied Health Workers
The Health Care Team
Relationships among Health Care Workers
The Changing Environment among Health Care Workers
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Question
References
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Meaning of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Scientific Medicine and Alternative Healing
Complementary and Alternative Healers
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Spiritual Healing and Christian Science
Ethnic Folk Healing
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER TWELVE: The Physician-Patient Relationship: Background and Models
Models of the Physician'Patient Relationship
Key Dimensions of the Physician'Patient Relationship
The Influence of Social Class, Race, and Symptomology on the Physician'Patient Relationship
The Influence of Gender on the Physician'Patient Relationship
Patient Satisfaction with Physicians
Patient Compliance with Medical Regimens
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Professional and Ethical Obligations of Physicians in the Physician-Patient Relationship
Truth'telling as an Issue
Confidentiality as an Issue
Obligation to Treat AIDS Patients
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Cases
References
PART V : THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: The Health Care System of the United States
Rating the United States Health Care System
The United States Health Care System
Health Care Expenditures
Financing Health Care
Explanations for Rapidly Increasing Health Care Costs
America's Uninsured Population
Cost Containment: Limited Prospective Budgeting, Rationing, and Managed Care
The Politics of Health Care Reform Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Cases
References
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Health Care Delivery
The Emergence of Freestanding Ambulatory Care Sites
The Flourishing of Managed Care Systems: HMOs and PPOs
Emergence of the Modern Hospital
Home Health Care
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: The Social Implications of Advanced Health Care Technology
Health Care Technology
The Right to Refuse or Demand Advanced Health Care Technology
Organ Donation and Transplantation
New Reproductive Technologies
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Case
References
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Comparative Health Care Systems
Major Influences on Health Care Systems
Health Care Services in Developing and Industrialized Countries
Types of Health Care Systems
China
Russia
Canada
Great Britain
Common Challenges to Health Care Systems Around
The World
Summary
Health on the Internet
Key Concepts and Terms
Discussion Questions
References
NAME INDEX
SUBJECT INDEX
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