Health and Society

Code

EPID4006

School

School of Medicine

Level

4

Credits

10

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

Patterns of health and disease in relation to gender and other aspects of social stratification.

The concept of illness as a social role with social consequences.

Lay responses to illness.

The concept of medicalisation, and sociological critiques of medicine.

Illness, deviance and social order.

Professions, and professional conflict.

Health and race/ethnicity.

Health and gender.

Health and disability.

Health and stigma.

Medical Anthropology.

Target Students

Primarily postgraduate students on the Master of Public Health, Master of Public Health (Global Health) and Master of Public Health (Research Methods). Places will be available to new staff and PhD students in School of Medicine who require training as part of their research role.

Classes

• Two 3-hour seminars each week for 4 weeks

Assessment

• 100% Coursework: Written assessment and oral presentation 15 minutes

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding. On successful completion of the module students will have gained:

• A sound knowledge and understanding of a sociological and anthropological perspectives on health, illness and healthcare

• Knowledge of key sociological and anthropological conceptual frameworks, values and principles as they relate to health, illness and healthcare

• Knowledge of a range of factors which impact on how individuals may interact with healthcare services and systems

• Critically evaluate the sociological and anthropological aspects of public health problems in relation to policy and strategy development, strategic leadership and international public health problems

Skills and other attributes. On successful completion of the module all students will have:

• Located, accessed and retrieved relevant material which informs key debates in the sociology of health and illness;

• The ability to critically analyse sociological research and identify issues which are relevant to public health

• The ability to evaluate sociological research and, where appropriate, to apply findings to practice

• The ability to recognise the role of qualitative research techniques in advancing our understanding of responses to health and illness

Professional practical skills. On successful completion of the module all students will be able to:

• Understand and employ sociological terminology

• Work independently to deadlines

• Identify and assemble material relevant to sociological issues in public health, in order to make evidence based recommendations

• Present an informed sociological argument in relation to health, illness and healthcare

• Communicate effectively with peers and professionals

• Conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to their professional role within a multidisciplinary environment

Transferable (key) skills

• Literature identification and review

• Critical analysis of theory and research

• Oral and written communication skills

• Time management skills

Conveners

• Dr Paul Leighton
• Professor Elizabeth Orton
• Grace Brough