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Social Sciences for Healthcare Professionals
Chris Allen (Author)
9781394186341, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 2 October 2025
336 pages
27.4 x 21.6 x 1.8 cm, 0.953 kg
A comprehensive guide to social sciences in person-centred healthcare practice To deliver truly person-centred care, healthcare professionals must understand the complex social, psychological, and economic factors that influence health and wellbeing. Social Sciences for Healthcare Professionals bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing a thorough overview of essential social science concepts and their relevance in clinical settings. Covering a wide range of core topics, from understanding social determinants of health to promoting equitable care, Dr Chris Allen and his team provide readers with evidence-based insights to drive better outcomes for individuals and communities. Social Sciences for Healthcare Professionals: Written by experienced educators and experts in nursing education, Social Sciences for Healthcare Professionals is essential reading for pre-registration, undergraduate, and postgraduate healthcare students in nursing, midwifery, and allied health fields. It is designed to support both coursework and professional practice, aligning with degree programmes in healthcare and allied health sciences.
List of Contributors xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv 1 An Introduction to Social Sciences for Healthcare Professionals 1 How to Use This Book 1 What Are the Social Sciences? 1 Sociology and Medical Sociology 1 Psychology and Health Psychology 1 Economics and Health Economics 2 So Why the Social Sciences? 2 A Patient’s Journey: The Social Sciences in Action 2 Completing Barry’s Story 3 References 5 Part 1 Understanding Health, Healthcare Systems, and the Healthcare Workforce 9 2 Social Theory, Social Research Methods and Health in the Context of Society and Care 11 Introduction 11 What Is a Theory? 12 Understanding Theories Through Levels of Abstraction 13 Why Is This Needed? 13 Grand Theories 13 Mid- Range Theories 13 Programme Theories 13 How Grand, Mid- Range and Programme Theories Work Together 14 Macro, Meso and Micro Levels 15 Macro Approaches: How Does Society Work? 16 Functionalism 16 Talcott Parsons: The Sick Role 17 Conflict Theory 18 Micro Approaches: How Does Society Work? 18 Symbolic Interactionism 18 Social Research Methods 19 Positivism (Quantitative Methods) 20 Interpretivism (Qualitative Methods) 20 Conclusion 21 References 21 3 What Is Health and Disease Why Do Definitions and Classifications of It Matter? 25 Introduction 25 What Is Health and Well- Being? 26 Shifting Perspectives on Health 26 Health as a ‘Resource’ 27 The Biopsychosocial Model 27 Salutogenesis and Positive Health 28 Salutogenesis 28 Capability Approaches 28 So How Should Health Be Seen and Understood? 29 Disease Classifications 29 The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 30 Classifying Mental Health and the DSM 30 International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) 30 Medicalisation, Over Medicalisation and Overdiagnosis 31 Does Medicine Want to Be Dominant Through Medicalisation? 32 Medicalisation and Overdiagnosis 32 Invisible Illness: Felt but Not Seen 33 Health, Disability and Personal Independence Payments 33 Conclusion 34 References 34 4 The Social Science of Mental Health and Illness 39 Introduction 39 Stress, Vulnerability and Mental Health 39 Mental Health, Social Deviance and the Law 40 How Does Society Care for Those Who Are Mentally Unwell? 42 Mental Health, the Illness Framework and Psychiatry 42 A Brief History of Mental Healthcare as a Social Paradigm 43 Early Psychology Within Modern Society and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 44 Psychoanalysis 44 Behaviourism 46 Critical Views on Psychiatry and Mental Health Treatment 47 Power Threat Meaning Framework 47 The Birth of the Recovery Movement 47 Modern (Integrated) Approaches in Current Health Contexts (4Ps Formulation) 48 Conclusion 51 References 51 5 Understanding the Organisation of Health Systems and Health Economics 55 Introduction 55 What Is Health Economics? 56 How Are Decisions Made About Who Gets What? 56 What Is the Political Economy and How Does It Relate to Health? 58 What Is a ‘Health System’ and What Health Systems Are There? 60 Out- of- Pocket Healthcare Expenditure 62 How Do We Measure Success and Why Should We? 64 Conclusion 67 References 67 6 The Global Healthcare Workforce and the Social Science of HealthCare Professions 71 Introduction 71 The Global Healthcare Workforce 72 Globalisation and Brain Drain Amongst Healthcare Professionals 73 Gender Inequalities and Healthcare Professionals 74 The Global Healthcare Professional Workforce Crisis 74 Who Are Healthcare Professionals? 75 New Healthcare Professionals 76 Sociological Explanations in the Study of Healthcare Professionals 77 The Functionalist Perspective and the Traits Approach 78 Neo- Weberian Perspectives: The Monopoly and Power of the Professions 78 Occupational Closure and the Medical Profession 79 Deprofessionalisation 80 Conclusion 82 References 82 Part 2 Meeting Population Health Needs and Health Inequalities 85 7 Population Health Needs: Understanding the Care Transition 87 Introduction 87 A Changing Society, with Changing Health Needs 88 Demographic Transition 89 What Can a Bath Tell Us About Population Health? 91 Demographic and Epidemiological Transitions: Why Increasing Chronic Illness, Multi- morbidity and Complexity Necessitates a Change in Care Paradigm 93 Not a Bath, but an Ocean 94 Increased Responsibilities and the Burden of Treatment and Disease 95 Self- Management to Support Individuals 95 Conclusion 96 References 97 8 Social Determinants of Health and Inequality 101 Introduction 101 What Determines Health? 102 Models of Health Determinants 102 Constitutional Factors – Modifiable or Unmodifiable? 103 Individual Lifestyle Factors 104 Social and Community Networks 105 Living and Working Conditions 105 Housing 105 Work Environment and Unemployment 105 Education 106 Health Services 106 Social Position, Social Class and Social Status 107 Intersectionality 108 What Are Health Inequalities? 108 Explanations for Health Inequalities 110 Material Explanations 110 Psycho- social Explanations 111 Cultural Explanations 111 Life Course Explanations 112 How Are Health Inequalities Experienced? 112 Conclusion 112 References 113 9 Stereotyping, Bias and Health- Related Stigma 119 Introduction 119 Understanding Our Bias: Stereotyping and Unconscious Bias 119 What Is a Stereotype? 120 What Is Stigma? 121 Implicit and Unconscious Bias 123 Health- Related Stigma 124 Mental Health- Related Stigma 124 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) 125 Addressing Stigma and Reducing Implicit Bias in Healthcare 125 Addressing Stigma 125 Addressing Unconscious Bias 126 Conclusion 127 References 127 10 Meeting the Needs of Those Experiencing Social Exclusion and Significant Inequality 133 Introduction 133 What Is Social Exclusion and Marginalisation? 134 Inclusion Health 135 Forced Displacement, Migration and Health 136 Place- Based Marginalisation, Nested Deprivation and Homelessness 139 Racial Inequalities in Cancer Care 141 Inclusive Healthcare Design and Research 143 Conclusion 143 References 144 11 Disability, Society and Health 149 Introduction 149 Embodiment 149 What Is Disability? 150 Attitudes Towards Disability 151 How Is Disability Understood? 151 The Medical Model 152 The Social Model of Disability 152 Disability and Discrimination 154 Children and Young People with Disabilities 154 Learning Disability 156 Inclusive Healthcare Provision for Those with a Learning Disability 157 Mental Distress 158 Conclusion 159 References 159 Part 3 Understanding Health Behaviours, Health Behaviour Change, and Public Health 165 12 Understanding Unhealthy Behaviour 167 Introduction 167 What Are Unhealthy Behaviours? 167 Diet 168 Activity Levels 168 Alcohol Consumption 168 Smoking 169 Why Do We Engage in Unhealthy Behaviour? 170 Structure and Agency 170 Social Structure 171 Habitus and People’s Cultural and Social Environments 171 The Commercial Determinants of Health 172 Personal and Individual Level Factors 172 Addiction and Habits 172 Hedonism and Affective Responses 173 Personality and Behaviour 174 Theoretical Models of Health Behaviour 174 Health Belief Model 176 Social Cognitive Theory 176 The Social Ecological Model 176 Conclusion 178 References 178 13 Evidence- Based Behaviour Change Approaches 183 Introduction 183 A Science of Behaviour Change 183 Healthcare Professionals Roles in Promoting Behaviour Change 184 Models and Theories of Behaviour Change 184 Transtheoretical/Stages of Change Model 185 Social Cognitive Theory 185 COM- B and The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) 186 Behaviour Change Techniques 188 Behaviour Change Interventions 188 Motivational Interviewing 189 Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and Healthy Conversation Skills 191 Digital Behaviour Change Interventions 193 The Limits of Individual Approaches to Behaviour Change 194 Conclusion 194 References 194 14 Public Health Interventions through the Lens of the Social Sciences 199 Introduction 199 Upstream Prevention 200 What Is Public Health? 200 What Is a Public Health Intervention? 201 The Political Philosophy, and (Bio)ethics of Public Health 201 The Harm Principle 201 Nanny or Nurture? 202 The Stewardship Model 202 The Nuffield Ladder of Interventions 202 Healthy Cities 204 Active Living 204 Greenspace and Active Transport 204 Parkrun, Free Exercise Classes and Gym Memberships 205 Diet 206 Calorie Information 206 Sugar Tax and Levies 206 Smoking 206 Swap to Stop 206 Smoking Bans and Smoke- Free Generations 206 Drinking 207 Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of Alcohol 207 Getting Rid of the Pint! 208 Nudging and Liberal Paternalism 208 A Whole Systems Approach to Public Health 210 Population and Planetary Health 210 Conclusion 212 References 212 Part 4 Social and Community Networks, Loneliness, and Social Prescribing 217 15 Understanding Support Networks and Influence Across the Life Course 219 Introduction 219 The Life Course Perspective 220 ‘Linked Lives’: What Are Personal Networks and Why Are They Relevant to Health? 221 Preconception and Maternity 222 The First 1,000 Days and Childhood 223 Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood 225 Working Age Adult Life 226 Retirement and Later Life 227 Conclusion 228 References 229 16 Social Isolation and Loneliness in Contemporary Society 237 Introduction 237 Social Isolation and Loneliness 237 Who Is Affected, Where and Why? 239 Global Loneliness Trends 239 Personal Characteristics of Loneliness 240 Loneliness and Age 240 Loneliness and Inequality 240 Loneliness and the Lived Environment 241 Digital Communication Technology and Loneliness 241 How Is Loneliness Measured? 241 What Are the Health Impacts of Loneliness? 241 Physical Health 242 Unhealthy Behaviours 242 Mental Health 242 Reduced Social Contact 243 What Interventions Have Been Considered? 244 Conclusion 244 References 245 17 Social Prescribing and Health and Well- Being 251 Introduction 251 Creative Health and Health Inequalities 252 Heritage and Museum- Based Activities 252 Physical Activity – Football Fans in Training (FFIT) 253 Nature – Blue Care Interventions 254 What Is Social Prescribing? 254 What Is a Social Prescribing Link Worker? 255 Does Social Prescribing Work? 255 The Role of the ‘Social Prescribing Link Worker’ 256 The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector 256 How Social Prescribing Is Experienced by Those Accessing Support 257 Conclusion 257 References 258 Part 5 Leading Safe and Effective Care in Increasingly Changing Healthcare Systems 261 18 Leading Safe and Effective Healthcare Teams: Leadership, Management and Complexity 263 Introduction 263 Complexity and Contemporary Healthcare 263 Complex Systems: When Things Go Wrong 264 Human Factors and Ergonomics 264 Reasons Swiss Cheese Model (Theory of Active and Latent Failures) 265 The Systems Engineering Initiative of Patient Safety (SEIPS) Models 265 What Is Leadership and How Is It Different to Management? 267 What Makes a Leader? 269 Self- Leadership and Emotional Intelligence 269 The Evolution of Leadership Theories and Approaches 270 Traits Approaches to Leadership 271 Leadership Behaviours and Styles 271 Situational Leadership 271 Transformational Leadership 272 Leader- Member Exchange Theory 273 Authentic Leadership 273 Servant Leadership 273 Distributive and Shared Leadership 274 Team Leadership 274 Taking One Last SEIP 274 Conclusion 274 References 275 19 Healthcare Teams, Team Effectiveness and Team Training 279 Introduction 279 What Is a Team, and Why Do We Work in Them? 279 Healthcare Teams 281 Team Effectiveness: Inputs, Processes, Outcomes 283 Team Inputs 284 Team Member Characteristics 284 Diversity 284 Social Categorisation Perspective and ‘Fault lines’ 284 Teamwork Processes 285 Communication 285 Psychological Safety and Conflict 286 Incivility 286 Group Think 287 Reflexivity 287 Understanding Team Performance (Outputs) 287 Teamwork Training and Teamwork Interventions 288 ‘Huddle Up’ – Team Huddles 288 Teamwork and Innovation 288 Conclusion 289 References 289 20 Digital and Technological Innovation in Complex Healthcare Systems 293 Introduction 293 The Social Sciences, Technology, Innovation and Digital Health 294 The Case for Innovation in Health 294 What Is a Health Technology? 294 What Is a Digital Health Technology? 295 Understanding What Makes Us Unwell 296 A Helping Hand: Decision Support, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) 296 Health and Self- Management Tools 296 Remote Access, Video Consultations and Virtual Wards 297 Preparing Healthcare Professionals for the Digital Future 298 What Does Success Look Like? Needs Led and Responsible Innovation 299 Intended User and Stakeholder Engagement 300 Adoption: Moving Beyond Creation 301 Healthcare Systems Readiness for Innovations 302 Contingency Planning 302 Interoperability 303 Security 303 Technologies, Inequality and Their Impact on Health 303 Conclusion 305 References 305 Index 309
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Subject Areas: Nursing & ancillary services [MQ]
