Medicine in Society: Behavioural sciences for medical students

Abstract

I initially found the title of this volume rather misleading, as it contains neither an analysis of the role of medicine in society, nor confines itself to what most readers would probably include in the category of ‘behavioural sciences’. It is, in fact, an edited collection of contributions from across the social and behavioural sciences—drawing on disciplines as diverse as medical ethics, the sociology of health and illness, epidemiology, health psychology, health economics, health promotion, health policy and health service management. It is, however, very much aimed at medical students, and sets out to offer them a ‘framework for understanding all of these…within one readable volume’. The emphasis on the educational needs of medical students is further reinforced in the book's introduction, which outlines the contribution of the behavioural sciences to the practice of medicine, and includes a section on becoming a doctor. In spite of this medical focus, however, it is suggested that this collection will be of wider interest, particularly to students of dentistry, nursing, and the allied health professions. Is there anything in here to interest the student of public health