The Role of Sociology in Healthcare
Question:
Discuss About The Emerged On Relevance Sociology In Advancing?
In the last five decades, arguments have emerged on the relevance of sociology in advancing the healthcare sector. Apparently, the focus of these discussions has been on the discrepancies between the various sociological theories on health and the medical model. With the advancements in technology and incorporation of these technologies in the healthcare sector, critics have questioned the relevance of sociology in addressing medical issues. However, for the impartial players in these discussions, sociology is a vital element in the progression of the medical field. The fact that sociological theories and the medical model differ on certain positions does not infer that sociology is irrelevant to the healthcare sector. In fact, sociologists posit that sociology has played a significant role in the advancement of the medical field. The two dominant sociological perspectives that elaborate on the social determinants of health are the Marxist theory and social constructionist theory. Although these two theories disagree with the medical model on certain issues, they are vital in the development and improvement of the medical field.
According to Weiss and Lonnquist (2015), it is impossible to alienate sociological perspective from medical studies. Sociology examines the interplay between several social forces and how they shape human life. According to Weiss and Lonnquist (2015), the field of medical sociology studies health care in relation to social factors. On the other hand, the modern medical field evaluates health care with regard to biological attributes of an individual. This difference in studying healthcare parameters forms the basis of the dissimilarities that exist between the several sociological theories and the medical model.
The Marxist perspective on healthcare is one of the important sociological explanations on the different determinants of health. The Marxist theory focuses on the power of economic activities in the society. As Chapman (2010) points out, the social determinants of health are the settings in which people are born, live, grow and work that determine their health status. In Marxists’ view, economic production is the most vital human activity in the society. In this respect, the economic ability of individuals within the society determines their ability to access health care services in the society. Additionally, this economic ability also influences how an individual lives a healthy life. The focal point of the Marxist perspective is that economic activities are the key health determinants in the society.
The Marxist Perspective on Healthcare
According to the Marxist theory, the forces and relations of production are the ones that shape the various substructures in the society such as healthcare, education, and legal systems (Chapman, 2010). Marx argued that in capitalist societies, inequalities in economic abilities result in the construction of social classes. In this view, there are those who control the mean of production and those who work for them. The ability to live a healthy life depends on the social class of an individual. For those in the upper social class, access to healthy living conditions is not a problem. However, for people in the lower social classes, sustaining healthy life is a struggle since they lack sufficient economic resources to lead a healthy life.
The Marxist theory is crucial in understanding the social factors that determine the health of individuals. Apart from the ease to access healthcare services due to resource inequalities, the Marxist perspective also elaborates on what is termed as occupational health problems. According to Weiss and Lonnquist (2015), the Marxist views insist that the health consequences of a population are shaped by the operation in a capitalist society. In their opinion, Weiss and Lonnquist (2015) posit that operations in a capitalistic society influence health outcomes at two levels. Firstly, health is shaped at the production level. The production level defines the modern concept on occupational health complexities. According to Chapman (2010), at this stage, health is determined directly through industrial diseases like exposure to chemicals, or indirectly through the use industrial commodities. For instance, the use of industrial products like canned food has adverse effects on the health conditions of the consumers.
Secondly, health is determined by the unequal distribution of resources in a capitalist society. According to Weiss and Lonnquist (2015), the uneven allocation of resources presented in the Marxist theory is one of the most dominant arguments on the sociological determinants of health. In this view, income, and level of affluence determines the ability of people to live a healthy life. For instance, the rich live in areas where there is ease of access to quality health services. Additionally, these areas observe high levels of sanitations. In contrast, those who are not endowed economically live in localities with a poor connection to quality medical services hence increasing their chances of becomes ill. Furthermore, these individuals lack the ability to afford reliable medical care. According to Chapman (2010), the deliberations of the Marxist theory are supported by the current commercialization of medical products and services. In this situation, only those who have sufficient resources can afford quality and reliable healthcare.
Occupational Health Complexities
The social constructionist theory takes a divergent opinion from that of Marxism. According to Conrad and Barker (2010), this theory posits that the understanding of the various health parameters depends with societies and cultures. In this view, every society has its unique views about illnesses. In fact, the theory refutes the universality of diseases as argued in the medical model. According to Weitz (2016), the ideology of the social construction theory is attributed to the works of Berger and Luckmann (1967) who point out that knowledge develops on a daily basis. In this respect, constructivists challenge the view that there is a conventional way of treating health problems. Instead, they argue that knowledge on health factors is socially constructed. Furthermore, the works of Foucault (1976, 1979) explores how cultural perceptions affect the medical profession (Weitz, 2016). According to Wietz (2016), Foucault argues that health and illness are social factors which are affected by time through changing interpretations and knowledge development.
According to Conrad and Barker (2010), social constructivists argue that the meaning of a phenomenon develops through interactions in a social context. In this understanding, the determinants of health depend on culture and practices of a society in the light of natural occurrences. Importantly, social constructionism explores how people and groups contribute to the establishment of perceived social realities and knowledge (Conrad & Barker, 2010). According to the social constructivists, illness has consequences which are free from biological implications. For instance, disability is a social construction, not an illness. In a sociological perspective, people who are disabled are excluded from certain societal activities. Therefore, health is determined by the ability of an individual to participate in defined societal activities fully.
Unlike the sociological theories on health determinants which focus on the social foundations, the medical model centers on biological factors as the key health elements. The medical model alienates the society as an influential health determinant. Instead, it narrows down to the individual biological essentials of the people in the society. Accounting to Wietz (2016), the medical model majors both on the physical and biological components of health and diseases. In this framework, the medical practitioners view a disease as an alteration to normal functioning of the body. The medical model maintains that health is determined by the genetic attributes of an individual.
Consequently, the model employs complex and defined methodologies in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. According to Garg, Boynton-Jarrett, and Dworkin (2016), the medical model addresses health conditions based on an individual’s genetic attributes. As Wietz (2016) points out, the medical model relies on the motivation that expectations in the medical field drive research and innovation. This view aggress with that of the social construction of knowledge. However, they differ on the universality of health conditions.
According to social constructivism, diseases are not universal and depend on the culture of societies. On the other hand, the medical model argues that health conditions not restricted by culture. Additionally, the sociological theories use participation in the core societal activities as the primary way of gauging an individual’s health status. In contrast, the medical model utilizes the biological ability of a person’s body to evaluate health stability. In this respect, the sociological theories posit that the role of medical professionals is to allow individuals to participate fully in the essential social processes. However, in the medical model, the role of health experts is to return the body to its pre-disease state (Weiss & Lonnquist, 2015).
However, Garg, Boynton-Jarrett, and Dworkin (2016) argue that it is impossible to exclude social factors as one of the instrumental health determinants. For instance, at extreme levels, resource distribution and working environment can significantly affect the health condition of an individual. Although the medical model does not cover these social factors, Garg, Boynton-Jarrett, and Dworkin (2016) point out that they are essential in attaining an efficient healthcare system. Currently, there are ongoing initiatives to incorporate the vital social perspectives into the medical area. For instance, community-based healthcare service is an ideal example of such initiatives.
Conclusively, both the sociological and medical theories play a significant role in the development of the healthcare sector. Although the use of technology in the field of medicine has suppressed the role social factors in determining health, there are increasing calls to integrate sociological standpoints in the modern medical practice. As proposed by various scholars, this integration will lead to the creation of an inclusive and highly efficient healthcare sector.
References
Chapman, A. R. (2010). The social determinants of health, health equity, and human rights. Health and Human Rights, 12(2), 17–30.
Conrad, P., & Barker, K. (2010). The Social Construction of Illness: Key Insights and Policy Implications. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(1), 67-79.
Garg, A., Boynton-Jarrett, R., & Dworkin, P. H. (2016). Avoiding the unintended consequences of screening for social determinants of health. Jama, 316(8), 813-814.
Weiss, G. L., & Lonnquist, L. E. (2015). Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness. London: Routledge.
Weitz, R. (2016). The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care: A Critical Approach. Boston: Cengage Learning
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