This book is designed to be used in several different ways. It can be read as a whole – from start to finish – since the chapters are organized in a logical sequence. Alternatively, readers might wish to select certain chapters for attention, depending on their interest or concerns and what might be relevant to them. Sections of each chapter that relate to other parts of the book have been highlighted in the text through cross-referencing, so that the reader can follow ideas and topic areas without having to read the whole book from cover to cover. The book is an introductory level text and so offers a comprehensive and contemporary framework of key topic areas within the discipline of health studies. It contains useful references to further reading, resources and additional material available on the companion website, allowing scope for those who wish to explore in more depth.
The book is also divided into three coherent parts and each part can be read independently of the whole. The first part sets the context for the book, exploring what health is, contemporary threats to health and how we investigate it; the second part focuses on disciplinary perspectives such as sociology, anthropology, health psychology and health promotion; the third part looks at influences upon health, ending with a set of contemporary case studies that brings everything together.
Part I
Chapter 1 – What is Health?
Chapter 1 will be useful to students on any health-related and health-professional courses, as it explores the fundamental question ‘What is health?’, providing an overview of how health is conceptualized and understood. Understanding different perspectives and theories on health is foundational to learning about health and training, in any profession, to promote health. This chapter is also a necessary read in order to contextualize the debate within subsequent chapters.
Chapter 2 – Contemporary Threats to Health
This chapter identifies and explores contemporary threats to health. It is a useful and interesting read for all those working in the public-health field because it helps to identify public-health objectives within the UK and globally. The chapter also provides insight into the nature of these threats and the factors that influence specific issues that are identified as such threats. Hence, it encourages thought about the processes associated with defining contemporary threats to health and also identifies threats that are less obvious, such as terrorism. Ultimately, this chapter is a unique summary of the contemporary threats to health.
Chapter 3 – Investigating Health
In every profession, including health, there is the need to evaluate new information, particularly as evidence-based practice has become so important in recent years. However, there is often not enough evidence or there may even be competing research findings, so the need to evaluate and research constantly remains ever present. This chapter is therefore an essential read for all those studying health, as it will enable them to understand the key components of the research process and therefore to interpret research findings. Furthermore, a key stage of completing an undergraduate degree is the completion of an honours project or dissertation; this chapter has been written with this specifically in mind and so is an ideal guide to help students on their journey in completing such undergraduate projects. Indeed, many undergraduate Quality Assurance Agency benchmark statements make clear reference to the importance of research within their programmes, so this chapter is a fundamental read for all health students.
Part II
Chapter 4 – Sociology
Chapter 4 will be useful for all health students because it outlines the focus of the discipline of sociology specifically in relation to health and illness. Readers will gain an insight into the social world from the point of view of sociologists and therefore begin to be able to develop new perspectives, understand various theoretical viewpoints and think critically about social situations in terms of both structure and agency. The focus in this chapter upon health as social and the importance of health inequalities is a central theme for those completing health-studies degrees. In addition, this chapter is a useful introductory resource for broader health professionals such as nurses, allied health professionals and those studying health promotion, who are often required to complete sociology modules as part of their degree programmes.
Chapter 5 – Social Anthropology
This chapter gives an insight into the relationship between health and culture, demonstrating the importance of lay beliefs in relation to understanding health and treatment. It is important for those completing undergraduate health programmes because it further enhances their knowledge about the importance of the social in relation to health. The chapter also facilitates the ability of the reader to make comparisons between a range of health contexts. The chapter is again relevant to any health professional because it creates an awareness of different cultural settings and draws attention to the importance of the everyday understandings (lay perspectives) that co-exist alongside medical and professional viewpoints.
Chapter 6 – Health Psychology
This chapter focuses on a discipline that makes a major contribution to public health. Health psychology is fundamental in many ways and for many reasons, as it is about exploring the ways in which people behave in relation to their health. Underpinning behaviour is a range of complex influences, which this chapter explores, drawing on theory and recent research in the discipline. This chapter will be of interest to students on a range of health-related courses as well as those on health-professional courses, such as nursing, and other allied health professions that encourage and facilitate behaviour change at an individual level through one-to-one encounters. Of course, students of psychology, especially health psychology, will find this useful reading for their studies.
Chapter 7 – Health Promotion
This chapter provides the reader with an introduction to health promotion and gives an overview of the frameworks used to underpin health-promotion practice. It also outlines the principles and values that underpin health promotion, so the chapter is an excellent introduction to all of those interested in learning about health promotion. The chapter is essential for students who are beginning to study health promotion across a range of subject areas, such as health studies, health promotion and public health. It is also a useful resource for inter-professional health care students and nurses who are often required to undertake health-promotion modules and is internationally relevant because health promotion is practised across the world in a variety of contexts.
Part III
Part III of the book takes the reader on a journey, looking at influences upon health, starting at the individual level and moving on to consider wider structural factors, such as the importance