Foundation Degree in Care Studies. Sociological Perspectives

To understand the different concepts of ill health. Sociological Perspectives Learning Objective: To understand the different concepts of ill health.

Sociological Perspectives Last week we looked at disability, and the concepts used to understand it. What are the two models of disability called?

Sociological Perspectives Do you think it is the medical professions that label us with conditions? In some cases, it is the medical professions that cause the diseases.

Sociological Perspectives This effect is known as iatrogenesis. This means “created by a healer.”

Sociological Perspectives The term was introduced as a criticism of industrialised society and its bureaucratic institutions.

Sociological Perspectives This is still a major issue- the way we rely on and trust doctors has been instilled in many societies.

Sociological Perspectives Particular areas of concern are the side effects of drugs, the risks attached to medical trials and concerns about infections spread within hospitals. Can you think of some examples?

Sociological Perspectives There are three major types of iatrogenesis:

Sociological Perspectives Clinical iatrogenesis: The unwanted side-effects of medical intervention

Sociological Perspectives Social iatrogenesis: Medicine has gained so much power and status that people too quickly and easily put themselves in the hands of the profession They become mass consumers of medical products.

Sociological Perspectives Cultural iatrogenesis: Society becomes over-concerned with perfect health, making it difficult to develop positive attitudes towards impairment and to cope with death.

Sociological Perspectives What other ways do you think healthcare could have a negative effect on someone’s health? Have you ever had a situation made worse by medical intervention?

Sociological Perspectives How many of you have felt unwell in the last two weeks?

Sociological Perspectives How many of you have sought medical help in the last two weeks?

Sociological Perspectives The vast difference in those numbers is evidence for the existence of a “clinical iceberg.” This is where the majority of ill health goes unreported- doctors are only seeing the “tip of the iceberg.”

Sociological Perspectives Can you think of some examples of illnesses that may go unreported? Why would this be?

Sociological Perspectives When you are ill, what sort of things do you do? Do you take a day off? Do you take advice? Do you take medicine? Do you stay in bed? Do people help you out? How do you act?

Sociological Perspectives These types of behaviours are part of playing the sick role. In exchange for being helped out, for sympathy and time off, you have to take medicines, follow advice and act in a certain way.