Course Overview
Healthcare practitioners do not simply treat biological bodies and their inner pathologies. They care for people as ‘lived bodies’ in social contexts. This course introduces students to basic sociological concepts and models of understanding in relation to health and illness, inter-professional relations, professional-patient/client relations, illness experience, healthcare inequities and health inequalities. Students will be expected to develop an understanding of the social factors that influence health status, as well as an understanding of the social processes that shape healthcare policy and the context of health work.
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the sociology of health and illness. In introducing students to key sociological concepts and theories, the objectives are:
•To develop the students’ understanding of sociology and the application of its conceptual tools to understanding the social context of health, illness, healthcare policy and inter-professional relations.
•To provide students with a platform to debate the relevance of sociology in healthcare.
•To develop students’ understanding of the structures of public health provision and introduce them to the pressing policy issue of healthcare inequities.
•To develop students’ understandings of the professional-patient/client relationship
•To develop students’ understanding of chronic illness experience and illness- related stigma
•To introduce students to sociological accounts of health inequalities in relation to social class, gender and ethnicity.
Learning Outcomes
1)Explain what sociology is and its relevance when studying health, illness and healthcare.
2)Question the ways in which healthcare relationships are power relationships.
3)Demonstrate an understanding of how social structure impacts upon health.
4)Describe and evaluate different explanations for health inequalities.
5)Discuss the importance of placing health and illness within their social, cultural and political contexts for particular domains.
Course Content
The lecture timetable and tutorial schedule is listed below. All lectures are 2-hours in length and tutorials are 1-hour in length.
| L1. Orientation and Introduction: What is Sociology and how is it applied to health and healthcare? | |
| L2: The role of the healthcare system | Tutorials |
| L3: The healthcare division of labour. | Tutorials |
| L4: The illness experience and stigma | Tutorials |
| L5: Social class and health inequalities | Tutorials |
| L6: Professional-patient relations | Tutorials |
| L7: Gender and health | Tutorials |
| L8: Ethnicity and health | Tutorials |
| L9: Chronic illness and health |
Instructional Method
The module is taught using a combination of lectures and student-led tutorials. Tutorials are student-led and require preparation. A tutorial plan and study guideline outlining the tutorial topics and readings is provided as a separate document.
Required Course Materials
Core Texts
Gabe, J. and Monaghan, L.F. (eds) (2013) (2nd Edition) Key Concepts in Medical Sociology. London: Sage.
Hyde, A., Lohan, M. & McDonnell, O. (2004) Sociology for Health Professionals in Ireland, Dublin: IPA.
Nettleton, S. (2013) (3rd Edition) The Sociology of Health and Illness, Cambridge: Polity.
Supplementary Introductory Texts
Barry, A.M. and Yuill, C. (2012) (3rd Edition) Understanding the Sociology of Health. London: Sage. Also, see the Companion Website, which contains additional material free of charge:
www.sagepub.co.uk/barryandyuill3e
Clarke, Alan (2010) (3rd Edition) The Sociology of Healthcare, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Denny, E. & Earle, S. (eds) (2010) Sociology for Nurses, Cambridge: Polity.
Jones, L.J. (1994) The Social Context of Health and Health Work, Hampshire: Palgrave.
Sheaff, M. (2005) Sociology & Health Care: An Introduction for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professions, Berkshire: OPU.
Other lecturers that will be sent to the students.
Assessment
At the end of the course students will be tasked with completing a 12-min pre-recorded narrated presentation on a topic from the module (see course outline). Depending on the student numbers, the presentation will either be delivered individually or in groups.
Assessment criteria
•Evidence of reading and use of material relevant to the question at hand.
•Knowledge and understanding of the key theoretical principles and concepts related to the topic area.
•A logically structured argument and clear approach to the answer.
•Coverage of the main aspects of the issues involved in answering the exam question.