Medical Sociology

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

Social science that seeks to understand all aspects of human behaviour
How individuals affected by wider social forces

Question 2

Why is Medial sociology important for medical students

Answer 2

Encourage students to think openly and critically about relation of medicine and health with other social forces (family, education, inequalities) and to apply this deeper knowledge to clinical contexts

Question 3

What are the factors observes in a biopsychosocial model

Answer 3

Looking at a patient holistically
Psychological factors (trauma, emotions)
Social factors (socioeconomic status and support)
Biological factors (genetics, physical health)

Question 4

What is the biomedical model:

Answer 4

Reductionist: explains illness by simplest possible process
Single factor cause: looks for cause of illness rather than contributing factors
Focus on illness not health
Assumes people cannot be responsible for becoming ill

Question 5

What is a biopsychosocial model

Answer 5

Holistic: looks at all factors that old affect health
Multi-factorial: assumes illness has many causes and effects
Doesn’t focus exclusively on health: continuum btw health and illness
Peoples behaviour influences health and they can change behaviour

Question 6

What are stigmatising conditions

Answer 6

Set a person having the condition apart from normal people
Mark them as socially unacceptable or inferior beings

Question 7

What is “courtesy” stigma

Answer 7

Family members of stigmatised individuals experience stigma because of their affiliation with stigmatised patient

Question 8

Effects on stigmatised individuals:

Answer 8

Highly visible condition:
- subject to staring, moving away
- obvious in everyday interactions
Condition that is hidden:
- pass as normal
- avoid certain situations