Health Inequality Flashcards
Sociology Definition
Study of development, structure and functioning of human society people’s interactions w/ health professionals, how people make sense of illness, behaviour + interactions of healthcare professionals in work setting
e.g. healthcare professional-patient relationship, illness vs. disease, professional values + interaction bwtn healthcare professionals and other healthcare staff
Dealing w/ Disparities in Health
Identify potential barrier to use of health services
pt. lvl = language concerns, understanding the system, beliefs provider lvl = understanding of differences due to ethnicity, provider skills + attitudes system lvl = organisation of appts., referrals
Culturally Competent Care - combination of attitudes, skills and knowledge that allows understanding and so better care of patients with different backgrounds to our own
Recognising when we are being culturally incompetent
Education as Social Factor of Health
Higher lvls of education tend to be healthier (than those of similar income but less educated)
Better understanding of health
More effective engagement w/ health services & health related advice
Better able to navigate health services
Poor health can impair education e.g. chronic disease
Employment as Social Factor of Health
Income + financial security
Provides social contacts
Provides status in society
Provides purpose in life
Unemployment is ass. w/ increased morbidity & premature mortality
Influence of Health System
People should be protected against financial risk in helath matters (no matter how the healthcare system is funded) = healthy + rich should subsidise sick + poor
Health Inequalities
WHO = differences in health status/distribution of health determinants bwtn diff. population groups
Inverse Care Law
Those who need medical care the most are the least likely to receive it & conversely, those w/ least need of healthcare tend to use health services more + more effectively
Medicine as a profession - sociological characteristics
Systematic theory Authority recognised by clientele Broader community sanction Ethical code Professional culture sustained by formal professional sanctions
Sick role - patient
The sick role exempts ill people from daily responsibilities
Patient not responsible for being ill + regarded as unable to get better without help of professional
Patient must seek help from healthcare professional
Patient under social obligation to get better asap to take up social responsibilities again
Sick role - healthcare professional
Professional must be objective and not judge patients morally
Professional must put patient interests 1st - not act out of self-interest/greed
They must obey professional code of practice
Professional must have + maintain necessary knowledge and skills to treat patients
Professional has right to examine patient intimately, prescribe treatment and has wide autonomy in medical practice
Socioeconomic influences on health
Gender Ethnicity (social + cultural influences + genetic) Physical environment / housing Education Employment Income / social status / financial security Health system Social environment
collective set of conditions in which people are born, grow up, live, work
Gender as Social Factor of Health
Men have a higher mortality at every age
Women have a higher morbidity
Women consult more frequently in General Practice settings
Ethnicity as Social Factor of Health
Scottish South Asian have higher MI rates but also higher survival rates
Scottish SA - higher T2DM prevalence
Differing admissions rates for ethnicities - some lower; some higher (some Asian groups, White British etc.)
Greater sickle cell prevalence in African origin groups
Greater morality of majority ethic (white) population in Scotland
Certain populations have greater alcohol abstinence rates, some have greater rates of alcohol drinkers - there is diversity w/i & bwtn ethic groups; over time generational differences may emerge
People from some ethnic groups are more at risk from alcohol related harm
Housing as Social Factor of Health
Cold homes can put pt. at risk of mental health problems, respiratory problems, death
