49335 - Medical Anthropology (A-K)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires theoretical-methodological tools to consider adequately the socio-cultural dynamics enrolled in the disease experience and in the forms of care. Starting from the consideration that the process of translating signs of illness into disease symptoms is mediated by cultural reference frameworks, ignorance of the patient's perspective means taking the risk of misunderstanding the meaning of his experience and hindering his participation in the therapeutic process. By means of long-established tools on these issues, it is possible to produce better efficiency of the services provided (reducing drop out, non-compliance and access barriers) and greater therapeutic efficacy (thus promoting the health of the population). In particular, the student has knowledge of: - cultural design of the disease experience; - medical-patient communication; - impact of socio-economic processes in the production of risk factors and pathologies; - implementation of models to make these instances operational in the context of the medical-patient encounter and in the general promotion of his health.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Texts for the examination are published on IOL.

Teaching methods

lectures, discussions and active participation

Assessment methods

final written exam with multiple choice questions

 

Teaching tools

movies, internet connection

Office hours

See the website of Maria Luisa Parisi