Describe Medical Sociology And Its Usefulness In Medical Practice

Question 1

In lecture 1, we learned that sociology is the study of

Answer 1

Individuals, groups, and societies all linked by socialization.

Question 2

Medical sociology focuses on the social aspects of health true or false

Answer 2

Ture

Question 3

Medical sociology studies the social aspects of health and illness by focusing on 3 things:

Answer 3

• The expierience of a disease is a social experience
• Social and cultural values shapes people’s behaviour and health behaviour
• Health could be influenced by social forces

Question 4

Meaning of disease is a social experience

Answer 4

The disease can change and affect the patients social life and becomes part of the patients social life

Question 5

Explain how the following case falls under the experience of a disease is a social experience

A 40-year old man, married with two children has end-stage
kidney disease and is under dialysis treatment. He can no
longer work long hours, his wife works more now and he is
nearly depressed because he cannot support his family.
Other people feel sorry for him and treat him as he is not
capable anymore!

Answer 5

End-stage kidney disease is a social experience because patient’s social life changes as a result of the disease - the disease becomes part of the patient’s social life

Question 6

A younger patient with end-stage kidney disease may feel more stigmastised and looked at differently in the heamódialysis room than elsewhere. Why is this

Answer 6

Because age groups/people may experience the same conditions different socially. A younger boy having end-stage kidney disease is less common than an older person, hence he is looked at and feels different being in that room.

Question 7

Which of the 3 studies does the following Case relate to
A 56 year-old migrant woman is diagnosed with asthma but she does not adhere to her therapy properly
because she beliefs that only prayer can really help her.

Answer 7

This is an example of the socio-cultural values shape our behaviour and health behaviour. Due to her culture and the values she grew up around, she thinks only prayer would help her rather than medical treatment

Question 8

Which of the 3 studies does the following Case relate to
A 53 year old low income worker at a constructions company is diagnosed with heart disease

Answer 8

This one is social forces influencing ones health. He is old and low income as well as apart of the working class. Working class people have higher death rates. Social class or socioeconomic background associates with ill health and mortality rates. Low class meaning he also has less access to resources or education/behaviours on how to take care of himself

Question 9

Usefulness of medical sociology in medical practice

Answer 9

• you have general knowledge on social influences on health and are more understanding/will know how to help or why they got to where they are. The more you know about ur patients environment the more you understand about their condition making u a better doctor
• the more you know the better you can empathize, this is imp because the more empathetic u are the more patients feel comfortable to tell.
• you’ll be able to catch that they might need to see other specialists like a psychologist as well
• the more u understand them the more likely they are to go to therapy if they need it.