Reflection
Before taking this course I was familiar with medicine on the chemistry, biological, and overall scientific level. I never took into consideration how culture, population, economical status, politics, or anything else played a part into medicine. After taking the course I now can say that culture plays a large part in the medical field. Cultural beliefs, religion, economic status, risk factors etc., all play a part in illness. Once medical anthropologists can study a culture on all of these levels doctors can properly assess a solution of medicine for the illness.
The approaches that I found most helpful in understanding illness academically/professionally as a future medical professional were the critical and experiential methods. I found the critical method extremely helpful in studying the outside political and economical forces on an illness. The critical method also looks into the medicalization and biomedicalization aspects of the disorder along with values that cultures prioritize. I found the experiential method very helpful in understanding the illness, because it gave a first hand perspective of people with the disorder. The experiential method was a way to let someone "walk in your shoes". My personal experience may also help others to realize they are not alone and take advice for coping on their own issues. In the medical field it is important to treat each patient with compassion and the experiential approach allows the doctor to get personal with the patient and their illness.
The one thing we learned about that was most surprising/memorable to me was the growing popularity of pills being prescribed for illnesses. In the video "Pill poppers" we learned how common it is for people to casually take pills for anything from a headache to a cold. They described as "there`s a pill for anything and ready for anyone willing to take it". I found it shocking how much our society depends on pills to get through everyday life. I also found it shocking how many people are being prescribed to more and more pills everyday when they are not even sure what these medications do or if they actually work. The patients are just trusting that if the doctor prescribes it to them it must be safe. The things I learned that were most helpful came from the "Health and Equality quiz" we had to take. I was unaware how uneducated I was on the things which were asked and it left me to research more into each topic. For example I had no idea America was in 29th place in life expectancy. These were all facts that I never may have come across if it were not for this class.
When explaining the value of medical anthropology to someone who did not know anything about the field I would first explain each approach that we learned about. I would explain how an anthropologist would assess the situation when being presented with a certain illness. I would explain to them how the medical anthropologist looks at the external factors such as beliefs, culture, economic, social status etc. and how they affect illness in that community.
Before taking this course I was familiar with medicine on the chemistry, biological, and overall scientific level. I never took into consideration how culture, population, economical status, politics, or anything else played a part into medicine. After taking the course I now can say that culture plays a large part in the medical field. Cultural beliefs, religion, economic status, risk factors etc., all play a part in illness. Once medical anthropologists can study a culture on all of these levels doctors can properly assess a solution of medicine for the illness.
The approaches that I found most helpful in understanding illness academically/professionally as a future medical professional were the critical and experiential methods. I found the critical method extremely helpful in studying the outside political and economical forces on an illness. The critical method also looks into the medicalization and biomedicalization aspects of the disorder along with values that cultures prioritize. I found the experiential method very helpful in understanding the illness, because it gave a first hand perspective of people with the disorder. The experiential method was a way to let someone "walk in your shoes". My personal experience may also help others to realize they are not alone and take advice for coping on their own issues. In the medical field it is important to treat each patient with compassion and the experiential approach allows the doctor to get personal with the patient and their illness.
The one thing we learned about that was most surprising/memorable to me was the growing popularity of pills being prescribed for illnesses. In the video "Pill poppers" we learned how common it is for people to casually take pills for anything from a headache to a cold. They described as "there`s a pill for anything and ready for anyone willing to take it". I found it shocking how much our society depends on pills to get through everyday life. I also found it shocking how many people are being prescribed to more and more pills everyday when they are not even sure what these medications do or if they actually work. The patients are just trusting that if the doctor prescribes it to them it must be safe. The things I learned that were most helpful came from the "Health and Equality quiz" we had to take. I was unaware how uneducated I was on the things which were asked and it left me to research more into each topic. For example I had no idea America was in 29th place in life expectancy. These were all facts that I never may have come across if it were not for this class.
When explaining the value of medical anthropology to someone who did not know anything about the field I would first explain each approach that we learned about. I would explain how an anthropologist would assess the situation when being presented with a certain illness. I would explain to them how the medical anthropologist looks at the external factors such as beliefs, culture, economic, social status etc. and how they affect illness in that community.
One of the films I recommend that would fit well in the course is called "Selling Sickness". The film exposes the toxic relationship between society, medical society along with the pharmaceutical industry. The film explains how drug companies are advertising drugs for illnesses that were once never heard and now need to be diagnosed with prescription pills.
I would also recommend the book called "Freeing your Child from Anxiety" to those who are concerned about the pressures of anxiety on their future children. The book describes when a child is showing signs of an anxiety disorder and which of those signs are normal. With the increasingly high rates of child anxiety in our country I think it is important for all parents to be educated on the matter to ensure they are not giving their child un needed anxiety that could possibly carry on into adulthood.
I would also recommend the book called "Freeing your Child from Anxiety" to those who are concerned about the pressures of anxiety on their future children. The book describes when a child is showing signs of an anxiety disorder and which of those signs are normal. With the increasingly high rates of child anxiety in our country I think it is important for all parents to be educated on the matter to ensure they are not giving their child un needed anxiety that could possibly carry on into adulthood.
Sources:
BBC. "Documentary: Pill Poppers". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdngxQUOrs
Chansky, Tamar E. "Freeing Your Child From Anxiety". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/freeing-your-child-from-anxiety-tamar-chansky/1100619075?ean=9781452607030
National Association of County and City Health Officials. "Health Equity Quiz". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/interactivities_01-1.php
Scott, Catherine. "Selling Sickness". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://icarusfilms.com/new2005/sell.html
BBC. "Documentary: Pill Poppers". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdngxQUOrs
Chansky, Tamar E. "Freeing Your Child From Anxiety". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/freeing-your-child-from-anxiety-tamar-chansky/1100619075?ean=9781452607030
National Association of County and City Health Officials. "Health Equity Quiz". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/interactivities_01-1.php
Scott, Catherine. "Selling Sickness". Accessed August 14, 2013. http://icarusfilms.com/new2005/sell.html