The Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness

This textbook is widely acclaimed by instructors as the most comprehensive available, integrating recent research in medical sociology and public health to introduce students to a wide range of issues affecting health, healing, and health care today. It includes material on COVID-19 and expanded coverage of fundamental cause theory and the social determinants of health.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking textbook, widely recognized as the most comprehensive of its kind, delves into the profound issue of inequality in healthcare access and practice. Written in an engaging and accessible style, it incorporates recent research in medical sociology and public health to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse range of issues that impact health, healing, and healthcare today.

Incorporating the latest developments, including the impact of COVID-19, this new edition seamlessly integrates information on the social history of medicine, social epidemiology, social stress, health and illness behavior, the profession of medicine, nurses and allied health workers, complementary and alternative medicine, the physician-patient relationship, medical ethics, and the financing and organization of medical care.

Key changes and enhancements in the eleventh edition include:

Inclusion of material on COVID-19 in the main text of every chapter, with special sections at the end of each chapter exploring additional intersections of COVID-19 with chapter content.

Expanded coverage of fundamental cause theory and the social determinants of health, providing students with a deeper understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to health disparities.

New centralized discussions of how and why social disparities in race, class, gender, and sexual identity impact health outcomes in the United States, shedding light on the complex social determinants of health.

New "In the Field" boxed inserts on topics such as medical education and student debt, physicians' use of medical jargon, and corporate greed, offering real-world insights and perspectives.

New "In Comparative Focus" boxed inserts on topics such as the 1918 influenza pandemic, infant and maternal mortality in Afghanistan, the patient care coordination process, drug prices, long-term care, and global health, providing a comparative perspective on healthcare issues across different regions and contexts.

A more in-depth exploration of both physician and nursing shortages, recognizing the critical role these professionals play in healthcare delivery.

Expanded discussion of nurse burnout, a pressing issue that affects the well-being and retention of healthcare workers.

By offering a comprehensive and up-to-date perspective on healthcare inequality, this textbook equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address these complex issues and work towards a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.

Weight: 1200g
Dimension: 188 x 248 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032418124
Edition number: 11 ed