1. Importance of Sociology & Psychology to Pharmacy
Basma Kentab, MSc.
September 2014

2. Objectives Demonstrate knowledge & understanding of:
The need to study social and cognitive pharmacy
The relationship between social factors and health and illness

3. Introduction
A collection of people sharing common traditions, institutions, territories, activities & interests
Society
The scientific study of society, including the study of development, structure & functioning of human society, and patterns of social relationships, social action & culture
Sociology
A society is something that exists beyond the individual subject
Sociologists are concerned with providing descriptions of social phenomena and trends and analyzing prevailing social problems

4. Introduction Pharmaceutical Sociology (Social Pharmacy)
Concerned with the social institution of pharmacy & society as it relates to patients, medicines, & the work of the pharmacist
Pharmaceutical Sociology
(Social Pharmacy)
Example: pharmacists & independent prescribing

5. Introduction Psychology
The study of the human mind & its functions as it relates to human behavior, cognition (thought) & experience
Psychology
Sociology concerned with studying groups of people, psychology involves studying people at the level of the individual

6. Introduction Pharmaceutical Psychology
The study of people’s beliefs & behavior in relation to the activities of the modern day pharmacist , from experiences with health promotion & disease diagnosis in the pharmacy to beliefs & behaviors relating to prescribing, review & dispensing of pharmacologically active compounds by pharmacists
Pharmaceutical Psychology
Example of psychology relation to pharmacy : adherence

7. Introduction Cognitive Pharmacy
Involves pharmacy relevant thoughts & beliefs
Cognitive Pharmacy
Structured attempts to change patients’ behavior through the practice of pharmacy
Cognitive Pharmacy Services

8. Why Study Social & Cognitive Pharmacy??
Limitation of ‘’biology’’ in explaining all health behaviors and outcomes
Biomedical Model of Health
Focuses on biological factors that influence health & disease
Bio-psychosocial Model of Health
Acknowledges a complex interaction of biological, psychological & social factors in influencing health & disease
Example :depression

9. Why Study Social & Cognitive Pharmacy??
Social & cognitive pharmacy are concerned with the application of psychosocial knowledge to impact on patients’ health & illness-related behavior within the context of practice

10. Relevance of Sociology to Pharmacy
Social factors influence peoples’ health (either in a health-promoting or damaging way)
Sociology can help pharmacists gain better understanding of why people experience health differently according to their social, economic or political situations
Pharmacists are potentially able to influence the behavior of the patient

11. Relevance of Sociology to Pharmacy
Effective Pharmacist
Ability to influence beliefs & behaviors
Psychology
Sociology
Pharmacists are potentially able to influence the behavior of the patient by knowledge of breadth of factors affecting health through sociology & psychology

12. Social Determinants of Health
WHO Definition
The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system
These are shaped by distribution of money, power & resources at global, national & local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices
Are mostly responsible for health inequities (unfair and avoidable differences in health status )seen within and between countries

13. Social Determinants of Health

14. Social Determinants of Health
Neighborhood conditions& communities
Lifetime & generational factors
Working conditions
Income & wealth
Race & racism
Education
Gender

15. Social Determinants of Health
Neighborhood conditions
Water/air quality
Housing factors (overcrowding, exposure to dust)
Access to food
Access to an environment to exercise
Quality of local services (transportation, medical care)
Social relations (trust & understanding)

16. Social Determinants of Health
Working conditions
Physical nature of work
Noise levels
Exposure to hazardous chemicals
Long working hours/shift-work
Stressful jobs
Earnings & benefits
Unemployment

17. Social Determinants of Health
Education
Literacy level
Employment opportunities
Healthier work conditions & higher pay
Income & Wealth
Increased income associated with better education quality, childhood circumstances, working conditions

18. Social Determinants of Health
Race, Racism
Living in an area in accordance to race resulting in neighborhood inadequate resources
Long term stress from ethnic bias
Stress
Can lead to progression or development of disease
Can lead to uptake of risky health behaviors

19. Social Determinants of Health
Lifetime & generational factors
Childhood experiences
Health & wellbeing of pregnant mothers
Aging & deteriorating social ties
Gender differences
Women on average live longer than men
Men more involved in risky employment, unhealthy behavior as well as higher stress level

20. Health Outcomes Data Health according to WHO
A state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease
Emphasis on certain prerequisite for health
Peace
Adequate economic resources
Food & shelter
Stable eco-system
Sustainable resource use
This emphasizes the link between social & economic conditions, physical environment, lifestyles and health\
Health outcomes can be used to demonstrate inequalities

21. Health Outcomes Data Health statistics may be expressed based on:
Socioeconomic classification
Gender
Geographic region
Ethnicity
Examples of health statistics:
Life expectancy
Mortality rates
Self-reported health

22. Life Expectancy in KSA, 2012 Data (WHO)

23. Mortality Rate in KSA, 2012 Data (WHO)

24. Commonly Investigated Health Behaviors
Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Obesity
Sexual health
One of the key recommendations for addressing health inequalities relates to changing these behaviors through psychology

25. References
Donyai, Parastou. Social and cognitive pharmacy: theory and case studies. London: Pharmaceutical Press;2012. Chapter 1