Scientific Basis of Healthcare Science Essay Sample

Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Healthcare Science: Clinical Science

Sociology examines the links between society, health, and illness. It explores the factors that contribute to the morbidity and mortality rate of a population within a society or country. The sociologist who studies about health and illness used to focus on the social effect, and social attitudes toward the diseases, disabilities, aging, and illnesses of the population within a society. The sociology of health and illness focuses on three aspects: the conceptualisation, the study measurement and social distribution, and the justification of patterns of health and illness (Nettleton, 2020). In this essay, focus will be given on exploring the principle and core concepts of the sociology of health and illness. In this essay, the focus will be given to the factors that contribute to the well-being of individuals and to the maintenance of social health. in this essay, the focus will also be given to the economic, social, and psychological factors including the age, gender, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, and religious belief in health and health-related behavior of people, specifically when it comes to work in a healthcare organisation.

Discussion

Principle and the core concept of the sociology of health and Illness

Sociologists study health and illness not only because they are interested in the ongoing issues of the culture of human existence- suffering, death, and pain; but rather because they help people to understand the perception of society towards the health and well-being of the people within society. According to Nettleton, (2020), the sociology of health and illness can be defined as a study field that examines the social factors that influence the health, well-being, and illness of individuals within the society. This is concerned with how the social structure, institution, and relationship between the people and individuals with healthcare professionals can affect the overall health outcome of an individual (White, 2016). For sociologists, common disorders that can affect the overall health and wellness of individuals can be influenced by several social factors like poverty, social support, and educational support. For example, while working at NHS as a social care worker, it was evident that people from highly deprived areas or where the poverty rate is relatively high are more vulnerable to chronic disorders like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, pulmonary disorders, and so on.

similarly, at NHS it was observed that the people who have a limited level of education are more prone to have poor health outcomes and are often exposed to limited healthcare facilities. according to the Conflict Approach, inequality in maintaining the quality of health and health care might be different based on the social class, race, ethnicity nationality, gender, and age of individuals (White, 2016). People with disadvantaged social backdrop are more likely to become ill and once they become ill, inadequate and limited healthcare accessibility makes it more difficult for them to recover and live a healthy livelihood (Weiss and Copelton, D., (2020). Therefore, it can be stated that social determinants such as socioeconomic status, education, and cultural background have had a significant impact on health outcomes as well as access to healthcare.

These sociodemographic characteristics are frequently present in patients who are referred to healthcare science services, which influences how they view sickness and how well they respond to medical therapies. Above all, the social construction of illness within society and families can also be influenced by the interpretation of the disease symptoms, the decision to seek medical help, and the acceptance of scientific intervention. According to Constantinou, (2023), social attitudes towards health and illness can be impacted or influenced by the stigma associated with the certain onset of chronic illness, which in turn can influence the willingness of the patient to get engaged with healthcare services. while working on a project as a social care worker at NHS, it was found that awareness about the sociological dimension is important to providing patient-centric care services, addressing the cultural nuances, and social determinants can ensure equal access to healthcare science and services which can facilitate the effective diagnosis, and treatment for common infection or disorders. So, as a whole, the link between the social factors, health, and illness among the people, can be defined in such a way, that diseases are socially produced and distributed factors which is not just a part of biology or nature. According to Bendelow and Phipps, (2023), the key variables that shape the production and distribution of diseases are the age, gender, ethnicity, and nationalities along with the ways professionals used to define the condition of disease. In the Marxist model of society, health and illness have been defined through the lens of class struggle.

This theory argues that the capitalist structure of society used to perpetuate health inequalities, where access to quality healthcare can be determined by the socioeconomic status of an individual. This theory also states that in a capitalist society, health outcomes are often defined as social inequalities in the braider aspect (Joury et al., 2023). Considering the Marxist theory of society and perception of healthcare at NHS, it can be stated that addressing the health disparities is essential to provide more equitable distribution of healthcare and treatment facilities irrespective of all classes to individuals with specific needs.

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The social, personal, and economic effects of mental ill health

Mental ill health has a profound impact on the health and well-being of individuals, families, and society. The social effect of mental ill health can include as social isolation, discrimination, and stigma, whereas the personal effect of mental ill health on an individual can be defined by the reduced quality of life, level of productivity, and increased risk of self-harm and suicidal tendencies (Joury et al., 2023). On the other hand, the economic effect of mental ill health can be significant as it includes the loss of productivity, reduced rate of economic growth with an increased rate of disease burden, and financial expenditure for individuals, families, and society. According to Bendelow and Phipps, A., (2023), mental health is an important component of the overall health and well-being of any individual irrespective of their social class. Abdin et al., (2023) have mentioned that, economically, the mental illness of an individual can erode the self-esteem, identity, and overall health and wellness or quality of livelihood of an individual, which in turn can lead to a substantial financial burden. For example, a person with mental ill health can be recognised as Absenteeism and with reduced productivity in personal and professional workplace setup which in turn can impact negatively the income statement of that person and his family, whereas the treatment expenditure medication can increase the financial strain (Viktorova et al., 2023). The cumulative impact often increases the socio-economic disparities, perpetuating the cycle of disadvantages. On the other hand, Joury et al., (2023) have mentioned that mental ill health can lead an individual to develop anxiety, depression, and other disorders that reduce the daily functionality of a person and his working, educational, and interpersonal dynamics. In a healthcare setup like NHS, the recognition and address of social, personal, and economic consequences of mental illness of an individual are important as by promoting awareness, the healthcare professional can eradicate the stigma and foster affordable mental healthcare services to the individual with specific needs.

Impact of experiencing mental health problems on individuals, family, and society

Mental health problems have had a significant impact on individuals, families, and society. According to NHS, mental health problems can negatively affect educational livelihoods, work life, and social life, as well as bonding and re; relationships with family and surrounding of individuals, negatively. According to many researchers, parental well-being is strongly affected by the mental health challenges of children (Kotera et al., 2023). More specifically, Alisherovna, (2023) has mentioned that a child with mental health problems can be related to quantifiable costs in terms of money, and time, and it also can increase the emotional burden of families and parents. Therefore, it can be stated that experiencing a mental health problem has a significant and far-reaching impact on the family, society, and individual to a considerable extent. According to WHO or the World Health Organisation, approximately one in every four individuals across the world is affected by neurological and mental disorders at some point in their livelihoods (Sebahutu, 2023). On an individual level, mental health issues contribute to diminishing the quality of life, hindering the well-being of an individual (Alisherovna, 2023). For example, chronic anxiety and depression are now considered as the major causes of disability across the world. From the perspective of Family, the effect of mental illness is pervasive. Family members used to face mental and emotional burdens while witnessing that their loved one was struggling with mental illness. Additionally, it can increase the economic burden for a family. On a social level, mental ill health imposes an economic burden. According to the current estimation by the World Economic Forum, by 2030, mental health conditions across the world can increase the global health-related economic burden by $17 trillion, including the direct and indirect health costs, and increased rate of absenteeism at workplace setup (World Economic Forum (2021).

Biological, physiological, and social aspects that predispose the precipitate and perpetuate mental health conditions

The mental health condition of an individual can be influenced by biological, physiological, and social aspects, which in turn can be categorised into four groups:

• Predisposing, b. precipitating, c. prognostic, and d. perpetuating factors.

The predisposing factors refer to the risk factors that contribute to creating the vulnerabilities of developing particular mental illnesses within individuals. For example, genetics, multiple adverse childhood experiences, abuse, and social humiliation in childhood can create long-term stigma which with time can lead that individual to develop long-term anxiety and depression at adult age. According to Sampogna et al., (2023), biologically, genetic predispositions play an important role, as some individuals have a higher degree of susceptibility to mental health issues due to family history.

The precipitating factors refer to the circumstances which can precede the development of mental illness or disorders (Sardari et al., 2023). For example, precipitating factors like the sudden death of some loved one, or energy imbalance due to heavy consumption of calory foods, stressful situations at personal and workplace setup can lead an individual to mental stress and anxiety or depression. As a whole, it can be stated that Physiological, social, and biological elements of mental health must be recognised and addressed to develop complete preventive, intervention, and treatment plans (Bourgeois et al., 2023). To effectively support individuals with mental health disorders and promote their general well-being, a comprehensive strategy that considers their multiplicity is essential.

Principles and methods of rehabilitation of people to work with:

Rehabilitation can be defined as the philosophy that every individual has the right to change their lifestyle and take charge of their health. According to Shahid et al., (2023), every individual has a holistic, comprehensive, and unique entity. From the perception of “rehabilitation” and the concept of the Medical Model of an acre, it can be stated that every physician must have the responsibility to play an active role in diagnosing and managing the needs of patients, by encouraging them to perform a passive role in the process of care (Sardari et al., 2023). There are some general principles and methods of rehabilitation for people with different impairments:

• Visual impairment- people with visual impairment can benefit from rehabilitation, which includes the process of restoring and improving visual function. Low vision rehabilitation includes eye examination, assessment of visual power and ability of individuals, and training for people with low visual ability to use optical devices (Sampogna et al., 2023). It also includes occupational therapy which can help people with low visual abilities to restore the skills that are essential to do everyday activities.

• Hearing impairment- Rehabilitation of hearing impairment includes the use of hearing aids, assistive hearing devices, use of cochlear implants along speech therapy which can help people with impairment to improve their overall communication skills (Sebahutu, 2023).

• musculoskeletal impairment – Rehabilitation for musculoskeletal impairment includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and the use of assistive devices, which people with specific impairments can regarding muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility (Bourgeois et al., 2023).

• mental health, e.g. the benefitsof mindfulness for improving well-being and mental health- to improve the mental health and wellbeing of an individual, the importance of mindfulness can never be denied. it is a process that can help people with specific needs to focus on developing a meaning of purpose in living, and reduce stress and anxiety, Mindfulness-based anxiety intervention can help an individual improve their mental health and well-being through counseling, therapy, and medication (Shahid et al., 2023).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be stated that the sociology of health and illness is considered to be an important field to examine the intricate connection between society, health, and illness. In this essay, focus has been given to the significance of social determinants like socioeconomic status, education, and cultural backdrop which impact the health and mental well-being of people. In this essay, highlight has been given on the biological, physiological, and social aspects that influence mental health and wellness and which underscore the need for holistic rehabilitation approaches. Additionally, in this essay, it has been stated that to offer fair and efficient care and promote well-being across a variety of populations, healthcare professionals—including those employed by organisations such as the NHS—must acknowledge the complex interactions among these elements.

References

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