Society, Culture and Health

Society, Culture and Health introduces sociology to students studying nursing and related health professions. It examines the sources of ideas about health and illness, including the biomedical model, folk and lay approaches and the influence of the media, and includes coverage of the impact on health of social marginalisation through a careful examination of structural variables. The experiences of health and illness are explained through a theoretical analysis of the body in contemporary society, covering issues such as chronic illness and disability. Thoroughly revised and updated Society, Culture and Health 2e gives an overview of the role of nursing within the health care system and its relationship with medicine and alternative health practices. Taking a practical approach, and using case studies to examine a range of issues such as domestic violence, occupational health, indigenous health and refugee health, it prepares students for working in health professions which are wide-ranging in settings, systems and clients. Written for nursing students, with relevant examples and cases showing the the relevanceof sociology for their profession. Contrasts sociological and biomedical approaches and examines lay perceptions of health, including cross cultural and indigenous health beliefs. Covers media and health, a topic not covered in any of the competing texts. An array of case studies which places health and illness within sociological and cultural contexts Follows the progress of "Julia' as she embarks upon her nursing career New chapters on gender and sexuality; culture and ethnicity; aging, health and inequality; and power and responsibility in health care encounters Karen Willis is a senior lecturer in sociology at the School of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Tasmania. She has responsibility for development of curriculum, course coordination, and teaching health sociology to nursing students. Shandell Elmer is a Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania, Department of Rural Health. She is currently undertaking a PhD that aims to explore the relationship between social capital within health service organisations and their attempts at community engagement. Contents 1: What is Sociology and Why is it Relevant to Nurses? Part 1 Ideas about Health and Illness 2: Biomedical and Sociological Approaches to Health and Illness 3: The Media and Health 4: Contemporary Debates about Health and Illness Part 2 Social Structure and Health 5: Health and Illness Patterns in Australia 6: Gender, Sex and Sexuality 7: Culture and Health: Ethnic Diversity in Healing Practices and Health Issues 8: The Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 9: Ageing, Health and Inequality Part 3 Experiencing Health and Illness 10: The Body, Health and Lifestyle 11: The Illness Experience: Chronic Illness Part 4 Working in Health 12: Health Care Systems and the Health Workforce 13: Power and Responsibility in Health Care Encounters 14: Complementary and Alternative Medicine 15: Nursing in Contemporary Australia 16: Nurses, Sociology and Health