University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
Study programmes & Course catalogue
for academic year 2025/2026
University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
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Course: Health and illness for social workers

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Course title Health and illness for social workers
Course code KSS/ZNSP
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Švarcová Andrea, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1.-2. Basic concepts of medical sociology and sociology of health and illness: Illness, disease, sickness 3.-4 Social construction of medicine and the body 5. Gender and health 6. Healthy and sick behaviour 7. Medical and lay knowledge 8. Relationship and interaction between client and doctor and other health professionals 9. Medical technology 10. Profession and professionalization in health systems 11. Health care systems 12. Hospitals and health organisations 13. Social movements and health

Learning activities and teaching methods
  • Preparation for formative assessments (2-20) - 20 hours per semester
  • Contact hours - 26 hours per semester
  • Preparation for comprehensive test (10-40) - 32 hours per semester
prerequisite
Knowledge
to describe and explain basic sociological concepts related to the sociology of health and illness.
to describe and explain basic sociological methods and their use.
to describe the methods and techniques of social work in the field of health and illness.
to characterize the main findings from empirical research studies.
Skills
to create a formally acceptable professional output (seminar work).
to actively use foreign databases of professional journals.
to independently interpret findings resulting from the application of research methods.
to use adequate terms corresponding to the terminology of the field in Czech and English.
Competences
N/A
N/A
N/A
learning outcomes
Knowledge
to define basic sociological concepts that are applied in the field of sociology of health and illness.
to reflect the diversity of experience in the field of health and illness.
to name and characterize key studies focused on health issues.
Skills
to apply a social perspective and use a situational approach in the practice of social work.
to assess the client's situation and needs.
to classify different types of theoretical and methodological approaches in the study of health and illness.
to independently choose a suitable theoretical-methodological approach when applying research focused on the study of health.
Competences
N/A
N/A
N/A
teaching methods
Knowledge
Lecture
Seminar
Textual studies
Skills
Lecture
Seminar
Textual studies
Competences
Textual studies
assessment methods
Knowledge
Test
Seminar work
Individual presentation at a seminar
Skills
Test
Seminar work
Individual presentation at a seminar
Competences
Individual presentation at a seminar
Recommended literature
  • Davis-Floyd, R.A., Sargent, C.F. eds. Childbirth and Authoritative Knowledge.Cross-Cultural Perspectives. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997.
  • Davis-Floyd,R.E. Birth as an American Rite of Passage. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992.
  • Foucault, M. The Birth of the Clinic. London: Tavistock, 1973.
  • Foucault, Michel. Dějiny sexuality. I, Vůle k vědění. Praha : Herrmann & synové, 1999.
  • Gabe, Jonathan; Bury, Mike; Elston, Mary Ann. Key concepts in medical sociology / Jonathan Gabe, Mike Bury and Mary Ann Elston. London : SAGE Publications, 2004. ISBN 0-7619-7442-3.
  • Gatens, M. Imaginary Bodies: Ethics, Power and Corporeality. Routledge London, 1996.
  • Hašková, Helena. Názorové diferenciace k současným změnám v českém porodnictví. Praha: Sociologický ústav AV ČR, 2001.
  • Hunt, S.H., Symonds, A. The Social Meaning of Midwifery. London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1995.
  • Jordan, B. Birth in Four Cultures. A Cross-Cultural Investigation of Childbirth in Yucatan, Holland, Sweden, and the United States. Illinois: Waveland Press, 1993.
  • Kahn, Robbie Pfeufer. Bearing meaning : the language of birth. Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 1995. ISBN 0-252-02171-1.
  • Kapr, Jaroslav. Pacient, revoluce v poskytování péče. Praha : Slon, 1998. ISBN 80-85850-49-4.
  • Kent, Julie. Social perspectives on pregnancy and chilbirth for midwives, nurses and the caring professions. Maidenhead : Open University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-335-19911-9.
  • Lindenbaum, S., Lock, M., eds. Knowledge, Power and Practice. The Anthropology of Medicine and Everyday Life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993.
  • Lupton, D. Medicine as Culture: Illness, Disease and the Body in Western Societies. London: Sage, 1994.
  • Lupton, D. The Imperative of Health: Public Health and the Regulated Body. London: Sage, 1995.
  • MacCormack, C. Ethnological Studies of Medical Sciences. Soc.Sci.Med. 39(9), 1994.
  • Miles, Agnes. Women, Health and Medicine. Open University Press. Milton Keynes, 1991.
  • Rapp, R. Testing Women, Testing the Fetus: The Social Impact of Amniocentesis in America. New York: Routledge, 1999.
  • Sargent, C.F., Johnson T.M. Medical Anthropology: Contemporary Theory and Method. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Press, 1996.
  • Stacey, M. The Sociology of Health and Healing. London: Routledge, 1988.
  • Turner, B. Medical Power and Social Knowledge. London: Sage, 1995.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, date of update: 23.04.2025 23:52. Data created for academic year 2025/2026