As with the other popular Key Concepts titles from SAGE, this book provides an accesible introduction which covers all the major themes and topics of health.

Key Concepts in Health Studies provides a much needed guide to the central concepts used across the subject, and offers the reader a comprehensive overview of the core topics, theories and debates. Drawing together the fundamentals within the disciplines of health, nursing, and social policy this book is an ideal text both for students studying health in a range of academic fields, and for health and social care practitioners. From ageism to public health, and gender to obesity, the book offers an exciting guide to the multidisciplinary field. Each entry features:

-A snapshot definition of the concept

-A wider discussion of the main issues

-Case studies illustrating the application of theory to practice

-Examples of further reading

Highly readable, with clear indexing, and cross-referencing between entries, this is not only a student-friendly textbook that will enable the reader to dip into and update their knowledge of a particular key concept, but a valuable resource to anyone practicing in the health care field.

PART ONE: DEFINING HEALTH
The Biomedical Model Of Health
The Social Model of Health
The Social and Medical Models of Disability
Alternative or Complementary Medicine
Quality of Life Measures
Functionality
PART TWO: THE HUMAN LIFE COURSE
The Life Course
Childbirth
Childhood
Family and Individual Well-being
Social Dependency in Older Age
The Third Age
The Social Organization of Death and Dying
PART THREE: HEALTH PROTECTION
Social Inequalities in Health
Social Capital
Risk Society
Public Health
Health Promotion
Work and Health
Global Health
PART FOUR: HEALTH BELIEFS AND HEALTH BEHAVIOUR
Models of Health Behaviour
Healthy Lifestyle and Consumption Patterns
Lay Knowledge and Illness Attribution
Personality and Health
Embodiment
Stress and Coping
Motivational Interviewing in Health Care
PART FIVE: THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS
Stigma and Labelling Theory
Medicalization
Biographical Disruption
Professional-Client Communication
Pain
Illness Narratives
Adherence
PART SIX: HEALTH CARE PROVISION
Health Care Systems
Long-Term Health and Social Care Needs
Informal Care
The Role of Health Professionals
Health Care Governance
Institutionalization
Health Care Consumerism and Patient Choice