Module on Health and Illness: Approaches, Influential Factors and Health Inequalities

Approaches to solving health and illness from different disciplines

Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated ability to

1.    Distinguish between the different approaches adopted by various  disciplines in the solution of health and illness.

2.    Recognise  the  major  factors  that  influence  the  health  profile  of  the  individual  and  the  society  in  which  he  or  she  lives  and  appreciate  how these factors are inter-related.

3.   Demonstrate   an   understanding   of   the   relationship   between health  organizations and vulnerable members of society.

SKILLS

4.  Present assignments using word processing and general IT skills

5.  Work as an individual in the self-directed reading sessions

1.Discuss how one’s social position in society is a key determinant of health.

Tips:

You might want to define what we mean by ‘social position in society’ (i.e. what do we mean by social class and how is this measured?), how do we measure health outcomes with social class? (Mortality and morbidity statistics). Historically what do we know about class and health? Are other variables implicated? (e.g. gender, ethnicity, place, age, disability) and how do they interact? What are the differences in morbidity (illness), mortality (death rates) and accessing health care between social classes? Why is this? (Theories). What research has been done on this? e.g. Wilkinson and Pickett , What might exacerbate this? Are the social divisions getting better or worse?–. Conclusion

2.Describe and explain men and women’s health differences in health, illness and mortality.

The structure of this would be similar to that outline above, but insert gender rather than social class! You need to distinguish between sex and gender in your definitions. What are the mortality and morbidity differences? Particularly mental health? You need to take account of the ideas around masculinity and risk behaviour and emotional reticence in asking for help. Also the mental load for women’s mental health in having dual roles. Remember that the differences in men’s and women’s health/life chances is also getting less defined.

3.Ethnicity and health: outline the inequalities in health and give explanations for understanding the relationship

As above, though replacing ethnicity with class/and/or gender. Define your terms, define race/ethnicity/culture. What differences are noticed in mortality and morbidity – and why? What about mental health? What about pathways into mental health (e.g. criminal justice)? Racism is implicated in mental health differences, as is cultural acceptance and stigmatisation around mental health. In older ages, family connectedness is better for Asian families warding against loneliness and isolation.

4.How do we define health? And what are the theoretical underpinnings of different interpretations of health and illness.

This question focusses around the first few lectures but you could draw upon examples from the other lectures we have had in this module. How is health defined? What influences health outcomes? Are lay and professional definition different and how important is this? Is social class implicated in people’s understanding of health? What historical references can you draw upon in how health and medicine came about? Are holistic frames of reference useful/applicable in today’s society or is the medical model dominant in most developed societies? What does the bio/medical model represent/and how might it be criticised? What might a social approach to health offer and is this helpful?