Medical Sociology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the World Health Organization define health as?

The absence of infirmity

A state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing (correct)

Only physical wellbeing

A complete absence of disease

What aspect of medical sociology primarily focuses on improving health service delivery?

Policy sociology (correct)

Psychosocial sociology

Cultural sociology

Critical sociology

Which of the following best describes the concept of the 'docile body' in the context of Foucault's medical gaze?

A body subjected to control and observation (correct)

A body that is completely autonomous

A body that is resistant to medical intervention

A body that is unaffected by social relations

How does critical sociology approach the healthcare system?

By examining the roles of social determinants such as race and class Signup and view all the answers

What role do doctors play according to the Foucauldian view of the medical gaze?

They have authority and sift through patient information as deemed fit. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of Talcott Parsons' expectations of the sick role regarding the sick person's obligations?

They should seek technically competent help. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect did E.L. Koos critique in Parsons' view of the sick role?

Different demographic factors affect how illness is perceived and managed. Signup and view all the answers

What expectation regarding illness did Ivan Emke propose for Canadians in the sick role?

Patients must take responsibility for their own illnesses. Signup and view all the answers

Which expectation is NOT part of Parsons' sick role theory?

Sick individuals must remain engaged in community service. Signup and view all the answers

According to Parsons, what does society expect from the sick person?

To try to get well. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assumption made about patients in the New Economy?

Patients are seen as potential abusers of the health care system. Signup and view all the answers

What does the social course of disease refer to?

The social interactions experienced during treatment. Signup and view all the answers

How does biomedicine approach health and illness?

Focusing on physical tests and treatments based on scientific rationale. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major critique of biomedicine?

It often reduces conditions to single-factor causes. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'medicalization' describe?

Defining certain behaviors or conditions as medical problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the medicalization process?

It overlooks sociocultural and political influences on health. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is often ignored by biomedicine according to its critics?

The patient's broader social context and background. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following therapies is categorized under complementary medicine?

Acupuncture Signup and view all the answers

What does commodification of healthcare refer to?

Normal conditions identified as diseases treatable with commodities Signup and view all the answers

What is iatrogenesis as defined by Ivan Illich?

Doctor-generated epidemics preventing treatment of illnesses Signup and view all the answers

Which type of iatrogenesis refers to the diagnosis and cure causing problems equally or worse than the original issue?

Clinical iatrogenesis Signup and view all the answers

How does the Deaf community generally view medicalization?

As a notion that views deafness as a defect Signup and view all the answers

What does cultural iatrogenesis entail?

Extolling medical knowledge while disregarding patient recovery Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as a critical issue in medical sociology?

Influence of alternative medicine Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Big Pharma' refer to?

Large pharmaceutical companies with substantial profits Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge faced by immigrant doctors in Canada?

Recognition of their qualifications Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean when a disease is described as racialized?

It is linked to a specific racial or ethnic background. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of medical school graduates were women in 1959?

6% Signup and view all the answers

According to the inverse care law, what tends to happen in areas with a high need for medical care?

There is often a shortage of medical care. Signup and view all the answers

Female doctors are generally more likely to pursue which of the following specialties?

Family medicine Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about female doctors compared to their male counterparts?

They are less likely to be sued for malpractice. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'temporarily able-bodied' refer to in the context of health?

Individuals currently without disabilities, but may face future health challenges. Signup and view all the answers

The feminization of the medical profession is evidenced by which statistic in 2004?

The ratio of women to men was 55:45. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant concern mentioned regarding health in poor areas, according to the inverse care law?

A risk of outdated facilities and equipment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Sociology of Health and Illness

Health is a relative concept, not fixed
According to the WHO, health is a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

What is Health?

The definition of health is relative and not fixed
WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Intro: Why Sociology of Health and Illness?

Medical practices and beliefs are deeply rooted in social relations, not purely scientific or biological.
Medical sociology examines policies around the uptake of medical inventions and interventions.
This involves policy sociology.

Foucauldian Medical Gaze

Biomedical paradigms are built on patient narratives (e.g., "The Birth of the Clinic", 1963).
Doctors hold a position of authority, sifting and interpreting patient information for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
The concept of the "docile body" highlights the medical system's focus on objectification and control of human bodies.
Medical practices are intertwined with institutionalization.

Sociological Approaches to Health and Illness

Policy sociology studies sociological data to develop health policies that optimize wellbeing.
Critical sociology examines multinational pharmaceutical companies, medical schools, and for-profit clinics/hospitals, and considers how social factors like race, gender, and class impact medical experiences.

The Sick Role

Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) introduced the sick role as a concept in medical sociology (1951).
The sick role suggests four key expectations; the sick person is exempt from social responsibilities, should be cared for, is obligated to recover, and obligated to seek competent help.
Parsons presumed social uniformity with this approach
E.L. Koos (1954) critiqued Parsons’s homogenous view, emphasizing that socio-economic status affects individual health experiences
Ivan Emke (2002) later proposed new expectations for Canadians in a changing economic context.

Diseases have a natural course, including symptom experience and recovery.
Medical intervention shapes how people experience and navigate illness.
Social factors like ethnic background, culture, class, age, and sex impact an individual’s social experience of the illness coping process.

Orthodox and Complementary Medicine

Biomedicine uses Western scientific principles and physical methods (e.g., tests, treatments) to address illness.
Alternative/complementary medicine falls outside conventional biomedical practice (e.g. Acupuncture, Yoga).
This alternative approach considers psychological, social, and emotional factors as influential elements in healing.

Criticism of Biomedicine

Biomedicine is criticized for its reductionist approach— focusing on single factors in explaining medical conditions.
It often neglects broader social, cultural, and economic factors influencing health.
Sometimes ignores cultural nuances of medicine.

Medicalization

Medicalization is the process of defining behaviors or conditions as medical problems.
Medical intervention becomes the dominant strategy for addressing these “medical problems” impacting social control.
Medicalization can be critiqued for reducing complex issues to biomedical causes, disregarding social factors like sociopolitical issues.
The concept of iatrogenesis, coined by Ivan Illich (1927–2002), highlights medical policies and practices that can cause harm rather than improve health.

3 Kinds of Iatrogenesis

Clinical iatrogenesis: Diagnostic or treatment methods can cause new health issues.
Social iatrogenesis: Social systems may cause conditions that masquerade as illness.
Cultural iatrogenesis: Dominant medical views can detract from individual recovery and create a sense of medical dependence.

Big Pharma

"Big Pharma" refers to large pharmaceutical companies.
These companies profit from the development, manufacturing, and marketing of drugs.

Medicalization and Deaf Culture

The Deaf community actively resists medicalizing deafness.
They view their communication style as integral to Deaf culture, not a problem to be "fixed".
The Deaf community rejects hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Critical Issues in Medical Sociology

Healthcare system problems, like shortages of doctors, are often related to factors like physician unemployment and immigration.
Rural communities, often marginalized, face medical access inequities.

The Racialization of Disease

Certain diseases are often unfairly linked to specific racial groups.
This can lead to unequal access to care and resources.
The disease itself isn't inherently racial; however, perceptions and treatment are shaped by social conceptions of race and ethnicity.

Gender Relations in Medicine

Women used to be under-represented in medicine.
Women are now entering medical school and practice medicine in increasing numbers.
Career paths and practice specialties differ between men and women physicians.

The Inverse Care Law

The inverse care law states that better medical resources tend to be less accessible to those who need them most.
Underserved communities face doctor shortages, overworked physicians, and out-of-date equipment.

Conclusion

Health is influenced by a multitude of factors (biomedical, political, psychological)
Temporarily able-bodied status is not permanent (can change)
Compassion drives effective care.
Individuals and systems have responsibilities related to health.

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Description

Test your understanding of medical sociology with this quiz. Explore key concepts like the 'docile body', the dynamics of the medical gaze, and the expectations around the sick role. Perfect for students studying sociology and healthcare systems.