07234 - Social Studies in Health

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student possesses knowledge, to the extent of his/her competence, of the social dimension of health/disease and its consequences in the life cycle, considering the main theories that have historically enabled the development of contemporary sociology.

Course contents

Educational Objectives
To be able to understand the ways in which the suffering person elaborates the experience of illness according to the different micro-sociological paradigms.
To be able to contextualize the plurality of medical paradigms of illness within the context of present-day society and culture.
To be able to identify the specific contributions that the sociology of health can make to the improvement of health promotion and therapeutic education strategies.
To be able to apply the concept of Illness behaviour to the understanding of patient behaviour in its various components and variability.
To be able to identify the distinctive features and critical aspects of care relationships with particular attention to the doctor-patient and nurse-patient relationship, to the caregiver-patient-family interaction, to peer interaction.

Programme
In the first part of the course, the main concepts of the Sociology of Health (definitions, theoretical and methodological orientations) will be analysed, with particular reference to the following topics:

- Cultures and representations of health and illness
- The construction of the sick body
- The medical construction of illness and its macro-sociological paradigms
- The personal construction of illness and its micro-sociological paradigms
- Psychic suffering, madness, disability
- From the experience of illness to the experience of risk
- Therapeutic education and health promotion
- Family relationships, social networks and health.

The second part of the course will consider the changing role of the patient in contemporary society. Particular attention will be given to the concepts of health literacy and engagement.

The following topics will be explored:

From person to patient: the sick person between identity and role
Patient health competence and social cohesion: Health literacy
From empowerment to engagement
The digital patient: pathways to self-care and technological inequalities
Explanatory models of health behaviour/presentations of illness.

The third part of the course will delve into the complexity of caregiver-patient-family interaction and analyse care practices and relationships in health care.

The course begins by comparing the main sociological paradigms on the subject and proceeds with an analysis of care practices focused on the relational - communicative dimension and in particular:
Models of analysis of the doctor-patient relationship
Models of analysis of the nurse-patient-family relationship
Triadic relations and care scenarios
The main transformations of the figures of user and doctor in the contemporary age
The future of care
In addition, a group work about the students' experience during the Covid-19 pandemic will be proposed.

Readings/Bibliography

- Cardano M., Giarelli G., Vicarelli G. (a cura di), Manuale di sociologia della salute e della medicina, il Mulino, Bologna, 2020

- Giarelli G., Venneri E., Sociologia della salute e della medicina, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2009

- Material provided by the teacher

Teaching methods

Short theoretical lectures on sociology of health in nursing care.
Role games or simulated "realistic" activities.
Meeting on "good nursing practices" with nurses of some social-health services of Rimini office.
If required, distance learning lessons.

Assessment methods

The final examination is oral.

General assessment criteria adopted:

- knowledge of the proposed content,
- ability to develop arguments independently,
- ability to empirically place theoretical generalizations.

Teaching tools

Use of Personal Computer and social networks, WEB links on sites of interest related to Health Sociology and Nursing.

Office hours

See the website of Luciana Ridolfi