So Many Electives: So Many Choices Why Bother with Sociology

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So Many Electives So Many ChoicesWhy Bother
with Sociology?

• We live in a time of rapid change, Taking this
  opportunity to study Sociology again before
  graduating will help you understand and influence
  that change.
• Changes are evident in
• Nursing as a Profession and the emergence of New
  Nursing Knowledge
• Our understanding of Health, Illness and
  Healthcare
• Perceptions of biomedicine as a sustainable model
  of care.
• Perceptions of the benefits of CAM and and
  holistic models
• Our awareness of rising incidence of Iatrogenic
  Illness
• Our ability to manipulate Human Genetics
• The need to reflect on Ethical Issues in
  Healthcare

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Greek Mythology Chiron the Centaur Moving from
an Epoch of Unquestioned Belief

• Chiron was believed to
• be the wisest and most
• learned of the Centaurs
• He was tutor to most of
• the Greek Heroes.
• These included Achilles
• and Hercules.
• He was credited with
• inventing Bio-Medicine
• as an unquestioned
• Science
• Photo Athens 2007

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21st Century Accelerated Modernity Glass
sculpture Speed and acceleration An Epoch of
Questioning old Beliefs

• The pace of change moves
• faster and faster as society
• begins to question and learn
• This Glass Sculpture stands in
• Athens across the carriageway
• from the Sculpture of Chiron
• the Centaur.
• Made of Glass sheets it could be
• described as symbolising all
• that is in danger of shattering in
• this Epoch of rapid change.
• An Epoch of questioning all
• we believed to be solid as rock
• Photo Athens 2007

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New Leaders will emerge in the next decadeto
shape the future of Nursing as a Profession To
shape Models of Healthcare delivery into the
future

• These Leaders will need to understand the process
  of change.
• Do you want to be swept along in that process of
  change?
• Would you prefer to be able to participate in
  that process?
• Could you be a Leader in that inevitable process
  of change?
• Do you want to understand what drives change?
• Questioning is the first step in the process of
  change
• Sociology is about Questioning and Understanding
  Change
• Sociology will provide you with extremely
  important insights, cognitive tools and methods
  of understanding and participating.
• Sociology can enhance employability / progress
  your Profession

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Sociological InsightsCurrent debates and
contemporary issues in Healthcare

• A glance at issues arising in the media gives us
  a clear picture of current concerns and debates
  in healthcare.
• Medical scandals and tribunals,
• the Neary scandal,
• recent reports of cancer misdiagnoses,
• overcrowding in hospitals,
• The rise in multi-resistant infections,
• Rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes,
• The problem of HIV / AIDS,
• Crisis in care of the elderly,
• These and other issues can be explored and
  analysed using Sociological conceptual tools to
  illuminate possible structural and institutional
  causes and solutions.

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The Lourdes Hospital Inquiry

• An inquiry into peripartum hysterectomy at
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda
• Report
• of
• Judge Maureen Harding Clarke S.C.
• January 2006
• Dublin
• Published By The Stationery Office
• Government Publications Sale Office

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Sample of Case Study 4 and workshop Contemporary
Issues in Healthcare HIV / AIDS as a Societal
Problem

• Readings Available through the Sociology
  Off-print Library
• Lengerman, J.J. and R.B. Hollander. 2004. HIV /
  AIDS As A Societal Problem The Third Decade in
  McAdam-OConnell, B. (2007). Sociology of Health
  and Healthcare An Introduction. Pearson Custom
  Publications. Part 4 Topic 4.1 (pp 345 to 358)
• Hyde, A., Lohan, M. and O. McDonnell. 2004.
  Sociology for Health Professionals in Ireland.
  Dublin Institute of Public Administration. HIV
  ? AIDS prevention strategies. (Chap. 14 pp
  287-290)
• Website What is AVERT? The Origins of Aids
  from www.avert.org

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Workshop / Seminar Forum 1Topic 8
Biomedical solutions and Alternatives Break into
discussion groups of 4, (each group has a
Chairperson ,Timekeeper, Note taker, Presenter)

• Each group addresses one of the questions.
• Discusses their allocated question addressing the
  following
• How useful are sociological insights in
  addressing your question?
• Which sociological insights did you identify as
  useful?
• What were the conceptual or theoretical insights
  you drew on?
• Whose work did you refer to?
• What did you identify as the gaps in your
  knowledge, where would you go for additional
  reading or lecture material to increase your
  understanding?
• Will give feedback to the class on their findings.

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Workshop / Seminar Forum 1 Worksheet Q1Q1.
Discuss how, using the rigorous rules of
sociological research and a cultural and
historical lens, you would research one of the
following (a) Childhood Obesity / Rising
incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (b) Care of the
elderly / Prepared Dying / Assisted Dying (c)
Increased incidence of MRSA infection. (d)
Iatrogenesis as a problem for biomedicine. (e)
Hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS in Ireland

• State which of the above health related issues
  you wish to address
• __________________________________________________
  ______________________________________
• How useful are sociological insights in
  addressing your question?
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• Which sociological insights did you identify as
  useful?
• __________________________________________________
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Workshop / Seminar Forum 1 Worksheet Q1Q1.
Discuss how, using the rigorous rules of
sociological research and a cultural and
historical lens, you would research one of the
followingContinued

• What were the conceptual or theoretical insights
  you drew on?
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  
• Whose work did you refer to?
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  ____________________
• What did you identify as the gaps in your
  knowledge, where would you go for additional
  reading or lecture material to increase your
  understanding?
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  ________________________________________

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You could choose any of the elective modules
offered ButRead these comments from past
students before choosing

• Some comments from students 2005 -2007
• I really enjoyed learning through interactive
  group discussion and the workshops. Learning was
  easier listening to others in the class relating
  sociology to experience on placements.
• Sociology has provided me with important insights
  into changes in nursing. We say we are
  professionals but we are not treated as
  professionals. Sociology helped me understand why
  and what we need to do to achieve professional
  status.
• I feel that sociology had given me an advantage
  over students who didnt take this module. I
  understand the issues and debates better now and
  I believe this knowledge will help me in my
  career.
• All of the 4th year students passed their SC4001
  exam with ease and the majority achieved a high
  honours grade.
• I thoroughly enjoyed my engagement with the 4th
  Year groups and look forward to working with
  those of you who wish to be Leaders in your
  Profession, and with those of you who want to be
  empowered to take part in the future shaping of
  healthcare

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Thank you for reading thisI hope it helped you
to make an informed choice

• If you need any further information, please
  either
• Ring the Department of Sociology at 4902318 or
  4902900.
• Alternatively you could email me at bmcaoc_at_ucc.ie
• So . Hope to see some of you in September,
  especially those of you who have an open and
  questioning mind who hope to be Leaders in their
  Profession and in shaping the future of Health
  and Healthcare