Medical Sociology
From discussing medical practices in other religions, exploring how social determinants affect health care, exploring different philosophies in medicine, to learning about various medical disparities, Humanity In Health seems to cover a wide span of topics. But what exactly is all of this information? Although all of this may not seem like it would make a direct impact on the healthcare industry, medical sociology, the study of social causes and consequences of health and illness (source), affects large populations. In today’s blog post, we will be going over what medical sociology is, why it is so important, and how we can pursue it at a higher level.
Medical sociology may very well seem to be an abstract topic at first glance. However, it has vast implications in the field of health care and is an integral part of the medical system. According to the American Sociological Association, medical sociology “provides an analytical framework for understanding the social contexts of health, illness and health care. Central topics include the subjective experience of health and illness, political, economic and environmental circumstances fostering ill health; and societal forces constraining the medical care system and individuals' responses to illness. This field draws on traditional sociological issues and contributes to them through reformulations of such basic concepts as social systems and institutions, professionalism, social movements and social change, and social interaction and negotiation. Drawing from pluralistic perspectives, the field is concerned with basic sociological research and its implications for public policy and practice.” The range of topics covered by medical sociology can include specific cultures’ health policies and practices, religious differences in approaches to medicine, and disparities faced by certain ethnic groups.
Although medical sociology isn’t typically what first comes to mind when one mentions healthcare, it is undeniably a vital component of the healthcare field. Medical sociology strives to understand why certain patterns occur in healthcare and what we can do as either patients or providers to help the healthcare experience be the best it can be. As the diversity of many countries increases, it becomes more important to become aware of differences among ethnicities, races, and certain populations when it comes to availability and approach to healthcare. This knowledge helps us gain awareness when interacting with people, patients, or providers who might not come from the same background as us.
Most medical sociologists start off as sociology majors in their undergraduate years. From there, they specialize in the medical side of sociology. Job opportunities for medical sociologists include community health workers, nurses, psychologists, hospital administrators, policy analysts, and human resource representatives. Medical sociologists can impact the way healthcare facilities are able to care for their patients using their extensive knowledge. Additionally, those who obtain masters and doctorates can become social health scientists. These individuals can become professors, publish books, and research new policies for the healthcare operating system (source).
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
