University of La Verne

Department of Health Services Management

 

HSM 302 Sociology of Medicine

 

 

Instructor

            Name: Joan Branin

            E-mail: braninj@ulv.edu

            Office Phone: (909) 593-3511 ext. 4247

            Alternate Phone: (626) 794-3665

            Fax: (626) 794-3883

 

1.0      Course Designation 

 

1.1      Health Services Management

1.2      HSM 302 Sociology of Medicine

1.3      Four (4) Semester Hours (60 Contact Hours)

1.4      Prerequisites: None    

 

2.0      Course Description

 

This course analyzes the cultural, historical and societal influences on medicine and the health service delivery system (ULV Catalog 2001-2002).

 

3.0      Course Objectives

 

The objectives of this course are to provide the student with:

 

3.1      An examination of the development of the healthcare delivery system in the United States, stressing the sociological conditions which influenced the type of system which evolved.

3.2             An awareness of the multiple definitions of illness and sickness, strategies for preventing illness, and ways of promoting, maintaining, and restoring health depending upon culture and experience.

3.3             Opportunities to challenge the biomedical model of health and illness, which treats health and illness in a simplistic, linear fashion that focuses solely on biophysiological phenomena. 

3.4             An awareness of the strong connections of medical sociology with related health fields such as epidemiology, medical anthropology, health services research, and health economics as well as newer connections with bioethics, gerontology, and environmental sociology. 

3.5             Opportunities to compare and contrast healthcare delivery in the private and public sectors.

3.6             An assessment of the differences in the availability of the components of the healthcare delivery systems within the U.S and other countries.

3.7             An investigation of the changing role of the healthcare professionals and their activities influencing this change.

3.8             An examination of the impact of the uninsured and underinsured on society in general, and on the health status of society in particular.

3.9             An awareness of the diversity of viewpoints about sociology of medicine by transforming a traditional classroom setting to an on-line delivery mode.

 

4.0     Course Schedule (see attached)

 

5.0       Student Activities: Learning Modalities

 

5.1      Participate in online discussions of course material

5.2             Read textbook and relevant articles

5.3             Conduct electronic database searches and use library resources

5.4             Prepare a written research paper and other assignments

5.5             Complete written midterm and/or final examinations

 

6.0       Student Learning Outcomes

 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

 

6.1       Discuss difference between disease, primarily a biomedical phenomenon though strongly affected by social forces and illness, on the other hand, which is a more subjective phenomenon.  Thus, the same social forces that affect disease also lead to varying perceptions, conceptions, and experiences of disease and illness and differences in the ways people seek medical care; some seek formal care and other self-medicate.

6.2             Appreciate the diversity of approaches to health maintenance and illness    care and prevention and its effect on utilization, access, and quality of care.

6.3             Understand the importance of culture-specific information and treatment in the effective and efficient delivery of health care.

6.4             Be more aware of the evolution of the concept of illness as a social construction, that is a phenomenon caused by human and institutional beliefs and actions, rather than as a value-neutral psychological process.

6.5             Understand the effect of social structural factors, especially gender, class, and race, on epidemiology, illness behavior, and the personal experience of illness, irrespective of health status.

6.6             Reconceptualize medical sociology theories from the early functionalism approaches (Parson's sick role theory, Rosenstock's health belief model), the conflict and interactionist perspectives (unequal patient-provider power relations, feminine sociology and health issues), to the current emphasis on the political economy of health and medicalization. Students will have an enhanced awareness of the sociological perspectives on ethical issues in medical and health care.

6.7             Be more aware of the sociological perspectives on ethical issues in medical and health care and the many health problems of specific populations within the U.S. society.

6.8             Trace changing social attitudes and their effect on a specific behavior or disease.

6.9             Discuss the ethnic and socioeconomic factors that affect the delivery of healthcare. 

6.10         Critically evaluate the present healthcare delivery system and suggest

           potential improvements for the future.

 

7.0       Assessment Plan

 

Outcomes will be evaluated by:

 

7.1       Discussion Group Participation                                          10%

7.2             Journal Articles (2)                                                                10%

7.3             Case Analyses (2)                                                                20%

7.4             Midterm Examination                                                           20%

7.5             Final Examination                                                                 20%

7.6             Research Paper                                                                    20%

 

8.0           Grade Designation

 

8.1      Undergraduate Grading Guidelines

 

 

            8.2       Grading Policy – Undergraduate students

The grading policy for undergraduate students is based on the assumption that the grade for acceptable and satisfactory performance in undergraduate study is C (2.0) or better. This implies that undergraduate students must perform at or above average level in order to progress satisfactorily in undergraduate programs.

 

 

 

            8.3       Incomplete Grade

The designation "Inc." (incomplete) is authorized only when it is impossible for a student to complete the course due to illness or other justifiable cause and only upon formal application from the student.  The instructor and student will then agree on a contract for completion of the work.  This application must be filed prior to the last day of class and all work must be completed by the end of the next regularly scheduled term.

 

            8.4       Plagiarism

All written work associated with any class assignments submitted by a student implies that it is his or her own work.  Use of anyone else's ideas, remarks, written material, opinions, etc. without appropriate written credit may risk failing the course and will be reported to the Office of the Dean.

 

9.0     Textbook, Materials, and Resources

 

9.1           Required Textbook(s):

 

9.1.1       Cockerham, W. D. (2001). Medical sociology (8th ed.). 

               Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

9.1.2       Publication manual (2001) (5^th ed.). Washington, DC:      

               American Psychological Association.

 

10.0    Course Expectations

 

10.1         Students are expected to complete all assignments, including assigned readings, when due. Missed course work must be made up prior to course completion. Late submission or assignments will result in a lowering of the grade for the assignment.

10.2         The instructor welcomes feedback throughout the term related to whether the content is meeting the student’s needs and expectations. 

Please feel free to share your concerns, comments, or questions.

 

The course may be modified, verbally or in writing, at any time during the term at the discretion of the instructor or the department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HSM 302 Sociology of Medicine

 

Course Schedule and Assignments

                                                                             

 

 Week             Readings       Topics

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

   1                  1                       Medical Sociology:  Contrasting Views about Health and Social Behavior

2                              Development of Epidemiology and Epidemiological Measures

 

 

    2                  3                      The Social Demography of Health

                        4                      Social Stress and Symbolic Interaction and Functionalism Theories

                                                Assignment Due: Submit Journal Article #1

 

 

    3                  5                      Health Behavior, Lifestyles, and Preventive Care

                        6                      Illness Behavior and Coping with Illness Symptoms

                                                Assignment Due: Submit Research Paper Topic

 

 

    4                  7                      Healing Options

                        8                      The Sick Role

                                                Assignment Due: Submit Journal Article #2

                                               

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

    5                                          Assignment Due: MIDTERM EXAMINATION

 

 

    6                 9                       Doctor-Patient Interaction Models and Cultural Differences in         Communication

                        10                    The Professionalism, Socialization, and Power Structure  of Physicians         

Assignment Due: Case #1 - Lincoln Medical Center: An Inner City Hospital)

 

 

    7                  11                    The Physician in a Changing Society

                        12                    Nurses, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, and Midwives

                                               

______________________________________________________________________

 

    8                  13                    Hospitals and the Rising Costs of Hospitalization

                        14                    Health Care Delivery and Social Policy in the United States

                                                Assignment Due: Case #2 - Watergate Nursing Home

 

  

 9                    15                     Health Care Delivery and Social Policy in Developed  Countries

16                          Health Care Delivery and Social Policy in Developing and    Formerly Socialist Countries

 

   

10                                               Assignment Due: FINAL EXAMINATION

                                                Assignment Due: Research Papers Due

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Supplemental Resources

 

 

            Bird, C., Conrad, P., & Freemont, A. (2000). Medical sociology at the millenium (pp. 1-10). In Handbook of Medical Sociology (5^th ed.). C. Bird, P. Conrad, & A. Fremont (Eds.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

 

            Buunk, B., & Gibbons, F. (1997). Health, coping, and well-being: Perspectives from social comparison theory. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

 

            Caper, M. (1995). Constructivist perspectives on medical work: Medical practices and science and technology studies. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 20, 395-400.

 

Estes, C. (Ed.) (2001). Social policy and aging: A critical perspectives Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

 

Freeman, H., & Levine, S. (1989). Handbook of medical sociology, (4^th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

 

Loustaunau, M., & Sobo, E. (1997). The cultural context of health, illness, and medicine.  Westport, CN: Bergin & Garvey.

 

Schwartz. H. (1994). Dominant issues in medical sociology, (3^rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

Sokolovsky, J. (Ed.). The cultural context of aging: Worldwide perspectives (2^nd. ed.) Westport, CN: Bergin & Garvey.

 

            Twaddle, A., & Hessler, R. (2000). A sociology of health. St Louis, MO: Mosby Company.