The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology

The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology is an authoritative overview of the most recent research, major theoretical approaches, and central issues and debates within the field. Bringing together contributions from an international team of leading scholars, this wide-ranging volume summarises significant new developments and discusses a broad range of globally-relevant topics.

The Companion’s twenty-eight chapters contain timely, theoretically-informed coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and emerging diseases, bioethics, healthcare delivery systems, and health disparities associated with migration, social class, gender, and race. It also explores mental health, the family, religion, and many other real-world health concerns.

The most up-to-date and comprehensive single-volume reference on the key concepts and contemporary issues in medical sociology, this book:

• Presents thematically-organised essays by authors who are recognised experts in their fields
• Features new chapters reflecting state-of-the-art research and contemporary issues relevant to global health
• Covers vital topics such as current bioethical debates and the global effort to cope with the coronavirus pandemic
• Discusses the important relationship between culture and health in a global context
• Provides fresh perspectives on the sociology of the body, biomedicalisation, health lifestyle theory, doctor-patient relations, and social capital and health

The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in medical sociology, health studies, and healthcare, as well as for academics, researchers, and practitioners wanting to keep pace with new developments in the field.