Sociology

Question 1

What are the 3 Analytical Dimensions of the sociology of health? (Hint: Micro, Macro and Health as more than…)

Answer 1

Question 2

What are the Social Aspects of Health, and why? (6)

Answer 2

1. Social class - Social economic status is associated with morbidity and mortality.
2. Gender - men are more likely to be risk takers and do more dangerous jobs.
3. Ethnicity - Ethnic minority groups have generally poorer health outcomes.
4. Culture - culture shapes our thinkking about health and illness.
5. Work conditions: poor work conditions are linked with poor mental andphysical health.
6. Unemployment: unemployment is linked with poor mental and physical health.
7. Social network: social networks have an impact on people’s wellbeing.

Question 3

The Risk Assessment approach to health promotion, follows which principles?

It focuses on which relationship?

Answer 3

Question 4

Explain schematically what leads to harmful behavior, according to the Risk in Health Promotion Theory.

What is the main problem with this theory?

Answer 4

Question 5

What is the Risk Society theory by Ulrich Beck?

Give examples of risks produced by society.

Answer 5

The “Risk” turns from category of Understanding to that of Fear. The “Risks” are not easily visible, localized, attributable and accountable.

Exmples:

1. Pollution.
2. Nuclear power.
3. Biologiac weapons
4. Genetically modified foods

Question 6

Explan schematically the model of the Risk Society.

Answer 6

Question 7

What is the Social Construction of Risky Behavior theory?

Answer 7

Question 8

According to Mary Douglas, in the theory of Social Construction of Risk Behavior, society’s culture creates sets of beliefs, which guide people’s understanding and behavior.

Why cultures create beliefs?

And why people act upon those beliefs?

Answer 8

Question 9

Is the theory of Risk Society effective? Examples?

Answer 9

1. Menstruation and proximity to pregant ladies in Cyprus.
2. The idea of giving someone the “evil eye”.
3. The development of fatalistic belifs in societies around the globe.
4. Masculanity as proving one’s manhood, which is related with taking risks. If someone’s “healthy” it is often associated with famininity.

Question 10

Explain schematically the model of the Social Construction of Risky Behavior.

Answer 10

Question 11

In the following scenario, dIscuss how the patient’s “risky” behavior could be explained according to the 3 theories:

a. Risk in health promotion
b. The Risky society
c. The social construction of risky behavior

How would you handle the patient?

Answer 11

1. Risk in health promotion - I am at risk, but if I take the medication, I won’t be.
2. The risk society - the patient is at risk because we as a society defined her at such (smoker) and we are also the resposible for the pollution she lives in.
3. The pollution is getting into the healthy body of the patient anyhow, and therefore she’s fatalistic about it.

Question 13

• Social consequences for patients due to chronic illness can be roughly divided to 4 main categories:

Answer 13

• In general (restricted life, social isolation, being discredited, burdening others)
• Uncertainty (cause, functioning and prognosis).
• Biographical Disruption (everyday life, structure of identity, interuption with social institution).
• Labelling and Stigmatization (socially labeled, sitgmitized by others, stigmitized by themselves).

Question 14

• How patients respond to biographical disruption?

Answer 14

• Coping: cognitive (changing their thoughts)
• Strategy: take actions
• Style: presenting their illness to others in certain ways

Question 15

What is the impact of the label on the patient’s life?

Answer 15

1. Stigma leads to low self-esteem
2. Low self-efficacy (inability to achieve goals)
3. Chronic stress
4. Seek less medical help
5. Less concordance/adherence to treatment

Question 17

What are the key characteristics of of Lay Health Belief (3)?

Answer 17

1. Health as functional capacity.
2. Disease candidacy.
3. Belifs about causes of illnesss.

Question 18

What are the reasons for ‘help seeking’ in illness behavior, according to Zola’s model (hint: WITSS)

Answer 18

1. Interpersonal crisis.
2. Interference with Work activities.
3. Interference with Social / leisure activities.
4. Santioning by others who insist help be sought.
5. Temporalization of symptoms.

Question 19

What is the the notion of the ‘expert patient’ in healthcare practice (4 points)? Is that and advantage or a disadvantage to clinical practice?

Answer 19

o Knowledge and experience that patients have of their illness

o Encouraging patients to take an active role in their own care

o The DoH (UK) specifically stated that this new approach is not ‘an anti-professional initiative’.

o Expert patients are more likely to be informed, adhere, recognise symptoms, and be involved in shared decision making.

*This is most often an advantage.