Marina Basson – Expansion of Medical Sociology in SA
1. INTRODUCTION
Sociology, as a science studies human relationships – with particular relevance to the formulation and perpetuation of these relationships. Human society is made up of individuals who all interact with each other within their specific societies (Jones, 1991:2).
It is said that the history of clinical sociology started with individuals who combined the scientific approach to how they analyse social life along with an involvement in intervention work (Fritz, 1989:72). Through their multidisciplinary and humanistic approach, these scientists sought to improve the lives of people in society. This they did through working with systems to assess situations in an effort to avoid or eliminate problems, substantiated with intervention programs. They analysed the social dynamics of these societies through critical assessment of beliefs, policies and practices. Their intervention was based on creating new systems which were better suited to making life better for the people or by changing existing systems to include a focus on prevention (Fritz, 2012:241-253).
The changing face of healthcare and medicine no longer sees the medical doctor as the only role player in health care (Cribb, 2005:4). The necessity for diversified multidisciplinary coalitions towards health care has become evident through the emergence of chronic health care and the re-emergence of communicable diseases spread through inter-continental trade and travel. There is also a trend towards medicalisation which sees the medical classification of deviances previously ascribed to religious transgressions or deviant behaviours (Bruhn, 1991:112). This places tremendous strain on an already constrained medical practitioner and allows for the unique knowledge of a medical sociologist to partake in the health profession through counselling.
2. WHAT IS CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY
The definition of clinical sociology has proven to be elusive because of the multifaceted realm in which the (clinical) sociologist practices (Fredman, 1982:34-36). However, according to Fritz (2012) clinical sociology can be defined as:
“..multi-disciplinary and humanistic approach which seeks to improve the lives of people.”
Fritz (2012) identifies three distinct features of clinical sociology which a clinical sociologist would apply during their case study.
- Work with the client system to assess the situation at hand in an endeavour to avoid or eliminate problems through analysis and intervention.
- Analysis is the critical assessment of social dynamics which includes beliefs, policies and practices.
- Intervention through the creation of new systems and the changing of existing systems to include focus on prevention (Fritz, 2012:241-242).
According to Fredman (1982:36) the clinical sociologist is a change agent as their primary task is to facilitate change in either a humanistic, holistic or multidisciplinary orientation. Whether that change is within the self, the organisation or the community – change and intervention are paramount to the role and function of a clinical sociologist. A classic example would be how a clinical sociologist can intervene in clients that require intervention with regards eating habits which may be causing serious health issues. By analysis of the family structure, and identifying how the family structure works, dysfunctions can be isolated and the relevant intervention strategy applied.
An important tool for the clinical sociologist is the sociological imagination. This means that the clinical sociologist has the mental capacity to assimilate how the larger social forces interact and how this shapes people’s lives (Ferrante, 2006:3). Without a sociological imagination the clinical sociologist would not be able to engage in “a birds eye view” of the situation and thus may omit certain crucial factors prominent to the dynamics of the case. An example of this is the research that was done by sociologists for The National Institute on Aging, where the changes across life cycles were studied to improve methodology affecting health, function and well-being (Mechanic, 1990:85-97).
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