Patients, Practitioners and Medical Care. Aspects of Medical Sociology

نویسنده

  • T D M Roberts
چکیده

undertaken! Imbalances in presentation are exemplified by the treatment of Bacteroides (just a half-page) whilst Myco leprae fills more than two pages. On p.315 the multiple pressure method of smallpox vaccination is said to be a special procedure! On p.47 the brief paragraph on 'Droplets' frightens the reviewer-it is non-informed and tells the reader nothing of significance of large droplets compared with droplet nuclei; this entire chapter (of four pages) must be rewritten. This volume cannot be recommended to my students. R.RG. THIS book is written in a practical style, is short and free of 'sociological' jargon. TIhe author, a medical sociologist, describes the social setting of medicine. His aim is to indicate something of the sociologist's role in predicting illness behaviour and to define his relationships with other workers in the field. The family doctor may find it more interesting and relevant to his everyday work than the hospital clinician, because of the heavy social and behavioural content. Social action and illness behaviour in different clinical situations are discussed. The author defines man as a 'social' as well as a 'biological' animal, and stresses the importance of understanding his social and cultural background. The chapter of greatest value is that concerned with symptom perception by different socioeconomic groups and the process of becoming ill, which includes a description of 'sick-role'. The chapter on the relationship of doctor and patient presents numerous deficiencies in communication and has wide implications for medical education. Doctors are apparently inept at handling uncertainty and they adopt varying strategies. Some see illness in narrow scientific and procedural terms, other see emottional and social issues as the very essence of medical care. The 'Hospital' chapter is complex and full of 'organisational theories and goals' of some iinterest to a medical administrator, but leess so to a clinician. It does however show the growing complexities of interpersonal relationships between different interdependent social groups in large hospitals. It is evident that the author has practical experience of applying sociological concepts to help solve clinical problems. Hence among the books available on medical sociology this second edition offers good value for money. It is very readable and to the point and should be read with interest by medical students, and in particular primary care physicians and other health workers. THE physiology of the nervous system is very complex but additional information is being provided regularly and we can expect …

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عنوان ژورنال:
  • The Ulster Medical Journal

دوره 48  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 1979