Contemporary Health Studies: An Introduction

Description

Contemporary Health Studies provides an accessible introduction to current issues and key debates in understanding and promoting health. Its up-to-date, global focus places a strong emphasis on the social, political and environmental dimensions of health. Part One sets the scene by looking closely at the definition of ‘health’ and outlining the aims and purpose of health studies. Part Two explores the different disciplines that underpin health studies, such as sociology, psychology, anthropology and health psychology, incorporating new theoretical frameworks to help readers understand health. Part Three applies this knowledge to address the determinants of health, including chapters on individual factors, the role of public health, the latest policy influences on health and the growing importance of the global context. Each chapter contains contemporary statistics and evidence alongside carefully developed learning features designed to highlight the fundamentals of each topic, to apply these to in-depth case studies – from global antibiotic resistance to the challenge and promise of digital data –, and to pose questions for reflection and debate. Contemporary Health Studies is an essential guide for undergraduate health students written by three authors who have a wealth of teaching experience in this subject area. Their book will inspire readers to consider the human experience of health within contemporary global society as it is mediated by individual, societal and global contexts. Dedication Title Page Copyright Foreword Acknowledgements How to use this book Introduction Part I Understanding and Promoting Health 1. What is Health? Key learning outcomes Overview Definitions of health Theoretical perspectives Lay perspectives Why is this important for understanding health? Summary Questions Further reading 2. Contemporary Threats to Health Key learning outcomes Overview Conceptualizing the identifying of threats Why and how is all this important? Summary Questions Further reading 3. Investigating Health Key learning outcomes Overview What is research? Philosophical frameworks Research question/s Quantitative research Qualitative research Differences between quantitative and qualitative research Ethics of research Evidence-based practice Why is understanding research important? Summary Questions Further reading Part II The Disciplinary Context of Health Studies 4. Sociology Key learning outcomes Overview What is sociology? Society as a determinant of health Sociological theories of health and illness Sociological critique of health promotion Why is this important for understanding health? Summary Questions Further reading 5. Social Anthropology Key learning outcomes Overview What is social anthropology? Culture and health Experiencing illness Culture and treatment Cultural representations Culture and mental illness Cultural influences upon health Why is this important to health studies? Summary Questions Further reading 6. Health Psychology Key learning outcomes Overview What is health psychology? How is health psychology important? Critical perspectives Summary Questions Further reading 7. Health Promotion Key learning outcomes Overview What is health promotion? Origins of health promotion Tools for understanding health promotion Principles and values Critiques of health promotion Contribution of health promotion Summary Questions Further reading Part III Influences upon Health 8. Individual Characteristics and their Influence upon Health Key learning outcomes Overview What is this all about? How do individual characteristics influence health? What does this mean? A lifespan perspective How is this relevant? Summary Questions Further reading 9. Social and Community Characteristics and their Influence upon Health Key learning outcomes Overview Social and community networks Social support Relationship between social support and health Social capital Measuring social capital Relationship between social capital and health Settings for social and community networks Implications for policy and practice Social and community networks Summary Questions Further reading 10. The Physical Environment and its Influence upon Health Key learning outcomes Overview What is this all about? Physical environment (living and working conditions) What does this mean? How is this relevant? Summary Questions Further reading 11. Policy Influences upon Health Key learning outcomes Overview What is social policy? Social policy as a determinant of health Current policy issues The British Welfare State Ideological and political values Health services as a determinant of health Health in all policies The broader policy environment The importance of fiscal policy Social policy and health studies Summary Questions Further reading 12. The Global Context of Health Key learning outcomes Overview Why is global health important? How does the global context influence health? Why is all of this important? Summary Questions Further reading 13. Synthesizing Perspectives: Case Studies for Action Key learning outcomes Overview The determinants of health ‘rainbow’ Key strengths of the rainbow model How the rainbow model might be improved Summary Glossary References and suggested reading Index End User License Agreement