Examination question paper: July 2017
Module code:
SH5002
Component number:
002
Module title:
Health, Illness and Society
Module leader:
Sam Assan
Date:
25 July 2017
Start time:
10:00
Duration:
1 Hour 30 Minutes
Exam type:
Seen, Closed
Materials supplied:
Exam Case Study, Questions and Answer Booklet
Materials permitted:
Pens and Water
Warning:
Candidates are warned that possession of
unauthorised materials in an examination is a
serious assessment offence.
Instructions to
candidates:
Using the case study below:
a) Answer ONE of questions 1 – 4
b) Use an essay format and cite underpinning
evidence
c) Word Limit: 1000 words for each question
Do not turn page over until instructed
© London Metropolitan University
Case Study
Hannah had just turned 35 when her world began to crumble. Her friends and family
were alarmed at the sudden moodiness, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, confusion, joint
and muscle pain, nausea and above all, the enduring feeling of tiredness she
complained of. Hannah has suddenly changed from a happy woman to someone who
battled daily episodes of what she calls extreme tiredness and anxiety. Her husband
Paul and sons, Dave and Dan have put this down to overworking and the firmly told her
to “slacken up a bit”. Although she tried a new relaxation regime suggested by her
friend Jenny, she still complained of daily episodes of overwhelming tiredness and
general malaise.
Her full-time care work had all but thinned out due to this
overwhelming tiredness; this is in spite of following Jenny’s suggested relaxation
technique. She began to miss work regularly but confided in Dave and Dan, she will
only go to the doctors if things persist into the next three weeks.
Hannah is of mixed English-African parentage, her paternal grandmother Adaeze is
African. On Hannah’s last visit home, her African grandma confidently confirmed the
condition as Kuru, a condition which she says occurred in those days when a woman is
about to start early menopause. She prescribed ginger, a cocktail of horny goat weed
and other herbs which she says will restore Hannah’s health. Grandma told her
“although you live in a sophisticated society now, we have a different and better way of
dealing with these things in my younger days”. Hannah eventually went to the doctors in
the fourth week as her symptoms persisted. Doctor Pedro suspected depression and put
her on anti-depressants.
Six months went by and Hannah’s condition did not improve. She switched jobs
constantly because she got fired a number of times for missing too many days and not
having a proper reason. She was so miserable and confused that Doctor Pedro’s
medication was not working for her. Argument began at home with Paul and sons Dave
and Dan who at first were sympathetic but could not understand her illness as they saw
no physical sign of “this illness”.
On Paul’s recommendation, she got herself referred to see a specialist at the local
hospital. She was very quickly diagnosed as having Myalgic Encephalopathy
(ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Hannah had a change of medication and now
feels more positive. She feels better now and she has an explanation for her condition.
QUESTIONS:
1. From the case study above, explain how biomedical and sociological
conceptions of health and illness differ? Refer to sociological critiques of
biomedicine
2. The case study above shows definitions of what constitutes ‘illnesses’ vary
between individuals and amongst social groups. Also, Patients have their own
interpretations about their symptoms and what action, if any, should be taken.
Explain these ideas with reference to research on lay perspectives.
3. Different societies, such as Adaeze’s have different ways to make sense of
sickness and different approaches to healing”. Discuss in relation to social
historical research on the changes in healing medical practices.
4. Discuss how true is the sociological assumption that the fear of enacted
stigma is more disruptive to the lives of the sick than the illness? Your answer
should be underpinned by relevant academic sources.