The impact and integration of behavioural sciences in the education of health care professionals

Abstract

Health, defined as physical, mental and social well-being, should be adequately conceptualized in organic as well as non-organic terms, thus implying a criticism of some training programmes which ought to recognize the dire need to integrate the socio-behavioural sciences--geography, social anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science and economics--in the education of health care professionals. The two components of this education, medicine and health care anf the socio-behavioural sciences, should prepare the professional adequately to practice the science of medicine and the art of the profession in varying socio-cultural contexts of co-existing health care systems. This paper argues that it is only those institutions which integrate the socio-behavioural sciences in their programme of health care education that are on the path of progress by keeping scientific pace with our understanding of the structural realities of contemporary societies.society culture medicine medical education