Health, Illness, and Medicine in Canada

Eighth Edition

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

Extensive treatment of the key features and history of the Canadian medical system includes coverage of medicalization, the roles of nurses and midwives, and the growing popularity of alternative medicine.
Comprehensive discussion of contemporary issues such as biomedicalization, complementary and alternative care strategies, health issues faced by people identifying as LGBTQ+, and popular conceptions of illness and disease.
In-depth treatment of major theoretical approaches-structural functionalism, post-structuralism, symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, and conflict theory-prepares students to understand health issues from different sociological perspectives.
Written by an expert in the field and class-tested over several editions, this text provides an eminently reliable treatment of health sociology in Canada.
Canadian perspective-a wealth of Canadian content and statistical data makes this a relevant and relatable overview of health sociology for students in this country.
Engaging box program gets students involved and helps them develop a deep understanding of key concepts:
- Critical Thinking boxes explore controversial topics and ask questions that encourage students to engage with the material.
- Spotlight on Ethics boxes encourage students to think about the ethical aspects of studying health, medicine, and medicalization.
- Highlighted Issues boxes call attention to new, interesting, and relevant examples of the issues being discussed.
- Remembering Our History boxes outline major Canadian historical events that illustrate and provide important background for the topic under discussion.
- Canada in a Global Context boxes describe international issues and outline how globalization has affected health and medicine.

Health, Illness, and Medicine in Canada

Eighth Edition

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

Description

The classic introduction to health and medical sociology that gives students a thorough and accessible overview of Canada's evolving health care system.

Exploring the theories and issues of health and medical sociology in Canada, this revised and updated eighth edition continues to provide an engaging and authoritative introduction to the field. Balancing theoretical and practical concerns, this text provides a foundation to the field of health sociology with coverage of the major sociological approaches before moving on to discuss key issues impacting Canadians.

Health, Illness, and Medicine in Canada

Eighth Edition

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

Figures
Tables
Boxes
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I Sociological Perspectives
1. Ways of Thinking Sociologically about Health, Illness, and Medicine
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Interpretive/Social Constructionist Theory
Feminist and Critical Anti-racist Theories
Post-structuralism
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
Part II Sociology of Health and Illness
2. Disease and Death: Canada in International and Historical Context
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Life Expectancy
Death, Disease, and Disability in Global Context
Poverty and Inequality
Food Security
The Physical and Social Environment
Safety, Security, and Stability
The Position of Women
Birth Control, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
Violence Against Women
Comprehensive Medical Care
Death, Disease, and Disability in Canadian Society
Precursors to the Major Causes of Disease and Death in Canada
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
3. Environmental and Occupational Health and Illness
Chapter Overview
Introduction
The Major Environmental Issues
Air Pollution and Human Health
Water Pollution and Human Health
Land Pollution and Human Health
Biodiversity
Food Safety
Occupational Health and Safety
Other Accidents and Violence
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Discussion
Suggested Readings
4. Neo-liberalism, Social Inequity, Disease, and Death: The Social Determinants of Health
Chapter Overview
Introduction
How Do Inequity and Health Relate?
Political Explanations for Inequality and Poor Health
An Operating Model for the Social Determinants of Health
The Social Determinants of Health: Evidence from Canada
Social Theory, Economics, and Health
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
5. Diversities and Health: Age, Gender, Sexualities, "Racialization," and Indigenous Peoples
Chapter Overview
Introduction: Social-Structural Positions and Health
Age, Gender, and Life Expectancy
Racialization, Ethnicity, and Minority Status
Immigrant Health
Indigenous Health
Brief History
Residential Schools
The Sixties Scoop
Governance Structures
Physical Environments
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
6. Some Social-Psychological Explanations for Illness
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Stress
Social Support
Sense of Coherence
Resilience
Religion and Health: Theoretical Views
The Illness Iceberg
Why People Seek Help
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
7. The Experience of Being Ill
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Illness, Sickness, Disease, Survivor and Aspirational Health
Cultural Variations in the Experience of Being Ill
Popular Cultural Conceptions of Health, Illness, and Disease
The Insider's View: How Illness Is Experienced and Managed
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
Part III Sociology of Medicine
8. The Social Construction of Scientific and Medical Knowledge and Medical Practice
Chapter Overview
Introduction: The Sociology of Medical Knowledge
Medical and Scientific Knowledge: Historical and Cross-Cultural Context
Medical Science and Medical Practice: A Gap in Discourses
Medical Technology: The Technological Imperative
Medical Science Reinforces Gender Role Stereotypes
The Sociology of Medical Practice
Doctor-Patient Communication
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
9. A Brief History of Medicine and the Development and Critique of Modern Medicalization
Chapter Overview
Introduction
A Brief History of Western Medical Practice
Medicalization: A Critique of Contemporary Medicine
Medicalization and Demedicalization
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
10. The Social Democratic and Current History of Medicare: Privatization and the State of Medicare in Canada
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Early Canadian Medical Organizations
The Origins of the Contemporary Medical Care System
The Early Efforts of Allopathic Physicians to Organize
A Brief History of Universal Medical Insurance in Canada
The Impact of Medicare on the Health of Canadians
The Impact of Medicare on Medical Practice
The Impact of Medicare on Health-Care Costs
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
11. The Medical Profession, Autonomy, and Medical Error
Chapter Overview
Introduction
The "Profession" of Medicine
A Brief History of Medical Education in North America
Medical Education in Canada Today
The Process of Becoming a Doctor
Getting Doctored
Organization of the Medical Profession: Autonomy and Social Control
The Management of Mistakes
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
12. Nurses and Midwives: The Stresses and Strains of the Privatizing Medical Care System
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Nursing: The Historical Context
Nursing Today: Issues of Sexism, Managerial Ideology, Hospital Organization, and Cutbacks
Nursing as a Profession
Midwifery
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
13. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Alternative, Complementary, and Allopathic Medicine
Chiropractic
Naturopathy
Therapeutic Touch
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
14. The Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical-Industrial Complex
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Drug Use
Pharmacists
The Pharmaceutical Industry
Medical Devices and Bioengineering
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
15. Globalization and Health-Care Systems
Chapter Overview
Introduction
Globalization, Medicalization, and Health Care
A Brief History of the Worldwide Concern for Health
Health-Care System Differences around the Globe
Traditional Medicines in Global Context
Health Care in the United States
Health Care in the United Kingdom
Health Care in Brazil
Summary
Key Terms
Questions for Study and Discussion
Suggested Readings
Appendix Websites for Sociological Research on Health and Medicine
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Health, Illness, and Medicine in Canada

Eighth Edition

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

Author Information

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke, Professor emeritus, Department of Sociology, Wilfrid Laurier University

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke is a professor emeritus of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Health, Illness, and Medicine in Canada

Eighth Edition

Juanne Nancarrow Clarke

Reviews and Awards

"A clear, comprehensive, and engaging overview of essential concepts, social issues, and broader contexts necessary for a critical engagement with the sociology of health and illness in Canada." - Cynthia Levine-Rasky, Queen's University "

"This text is an excellent introduction to the breadth and complexity of contemporary sociological health and illness issues in Canada. The author weaves foundational concepts such as the social determinants of health and medicalization with newer additions to the field such as climate change, alternative health treatments, and the #MeToo movement." -Alissa Overend, Grant MacEwan University "

"Clarke has done a great job of covering topics relevant to health sciences students pursuing a Canadian education. " -Kerry-Anne Hogan RN PhD, University of Ottawa "

"[This text] does not shy away from confronting the complexity of the medical/pharmaceutical-industrial complex while providing a rich contextualization of social determinants of health within neo-liberalism and social inequity frames." -Lisa F. Carver, Queen's University "