MZKSZ0411s Sociology of health, disease and healthcare - p

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lenka Slepičková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Tereza Friessová (assistant)
Mgr. Bc. Alena Langaufová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lenka Slepičková, Ph.D.
Institute for Research in Inclusive Education – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Mgr. Bc. Alena Langaufová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Health Sciences – Departments of Non-medical Branches – Faculty of Medicine
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces students to social aspects of health, illness and medicine. We will focus on the crucial topics in the field such as health inequalities, the profession of medicine, the experience of illness and disability, the social dimension of illness and diagnosis etc. We will work with particular examples and various type of materials, beside textbooks and academic papers also with media coverage, statistics, empirical material of both qualitative and quantitative nature.
Learning outcomes
- Give a basic account of sociological theories of health, illness and associated social roles
- Think critically about definitions of health and illness, and the way our healthcare system currently addresses illness.
- Explain main sources of health inequalities
- Describe the development of medicine as an institution and the development of the relationship between patient and doctor
- Acquire an understanding of the importance of the patients´experiences while researching health, illness and health care systems
- Be familiar with the most used and most appropriate ways and tools for researching in the field of health, medicine and health system
Syllabus
  • 1. The most important sociological theories of health, illness and medicine and related concepts
  • 2. Social dimension of health and social determinants of health
  • 3. Health, illness and medicine – Diagnosis as a social and cultural representation and praxis
  • 4. Medicine and society – medicalization, development of the medicine as an institution
  • 5. Physician and patient – their roles and relationship
  • 6. Research in the field of health, illness and medicine, commonly used methods and tools, participative research and including the „voice of patients“
Literature
    required literature
  • CONRAD, Peter. The medicalization of society : on the transformation of human conditions into treatable disorders. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007, xiv, 204. ISBN 9780801885853. URL info
  • The sociology of health and illness : critical perspectives. Edited by Peter Conrad - Rochelle Kern. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1981. ISBN 0312740662. info
    recommended literature
  • PORTER, Roy. Dějiny medicíny : od starověku po současnost. Translated by Jaroslav Hořejší. V českém jazyce vyd. 2. Praha: Prostor, 2013, 809 s. ISBN 9788072602872. info
  • KŘÍŽOVÁ, Eva. Proměny lékařské profese z pohledu sociologie. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2006, 142 stran. ISBN 8086429571. info
  • BÁRTLOVÁ, Sylva. Sociologie medicíny a zdravotnictví. 6., přepracované a doplně. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2005, 188 stran. ISBN 8024711974. info
  • SONTAG, Susan. Nemoc jako metafora ; AIDS a jeho metafory. Edited by Susan Sontag. Vyd. 1. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1997, 171 s. ISBN 8020405879. info
Teaching methods
Seminar, group work, discussion
Assessment methods
1. Assessments based on a reading
2. Test assessment (at least 65 % of the maximum score)
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/med/podzim2024/MZKSC0322s/index.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 5.
The course is also listed under the following terms spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/spring2025/MZKSZ0411s