HI278-15 From Cradle to Grave: Health, Medicine and Society in Modern Britain
Introductory description
‘From Cradle to Grave’, a 30 CATS undergraduate second-year option module, explores medicine in modern Britain through the lens of the lifecycle, examining how health care and medical interventions impinge on individuals and families from birth, through adolescence, maturity and aging, to death. It focuses on a wide range of themes – childhood disease and child poverty, the challenges of adolescence, fertility, reproductive health, childbirth and maternity, diet and wellness, chronic disease, the menopause and aging. The module is particularly concerned with the evolving relationship between family, state and medical provision in terms of the creation of services, as well as the question of ‘who is responsible for health'? The module will focus on the rise of the state’s involvement in medicine and health, changing institutional provision and the role of individuals, households and communities as active participants in their own health care, as well as the impact of voluntary organisations and patient/user groups. The module considers the role of geography, mobility, economics, class, gender and ethnicity alongside age as determinants of health issues and access to care.
Module aims
The module will adopt a ‘medical humanities’ framework in terms of reading and, while the bulk of the literature is historical, we will also read materials from other disciplines which have been deeply influential in shaping the subjects we explore including: anthropology, gender studies, human and social geography, sociology, and literature and narrative studies. There will be a strong focus on patient narratives, and the module will also aim to interrogate the role of the media in commenting on medical services and shaping public perceptions. Through our readings and a ‘media watch’, we will relate the issues explored in the module to recent and current debates in health care; thus alongside childhood disease and ideas of risk we will consider the recent controversy about MMR vaccination, as we explore nutrition and diet we will look at the ongoing panic about levels of obesity, and in our session on fertility and reproductive health we will focus on current debates on the cost and consequences of extending fertility treatments.
The module will be taught through weekly lectures and seminars which students are required to attend. Emphasis will be on student-led seminars and students must all read the seminar readings on a weekly basis.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Birth and Death in Modern Britain
Child Poverty, Health and the State
Medicine and School
Childhood, Illness and Disease
The Rise of State Medicine
Challenges of Youth
Healthy Lifestyles: Exercise, Sport and Health
Sex and Sexuality
The Rise of the Family Doctor
Birth, Marriage and Eugenics
Women, Medicine and the Lifecycle
The Empty Cradle: Fertility and Reproductive Health
Child Birth and Maternity
Work and Health
Menopause
Keeping Young, Keeping Alive: Middle Age
Aging and Society
Death in Modern Britain
Revision lecture
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- The development of critical and analytical study, writing and communication skills
- The ability to critically evaluate sources for the study of medicine in modern Britain
- To understand historical and theoretical interpretations of changes in medicine and health in modern Britain
- To present research in a creative, knowledgeable and succinct manner
- To develop written and oral communication skills
- To undertake bibliographic research
- To develop competency in using electronic resources for research and writing
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Subject specific skills
-Critically evaluate sources for the study of medicine in modern Britain
-Understand historical and theoretical interpretations of the study of medicine in modern Britain
Transferable skills
-Develop critical and analytical study, writing and communication skills
-Present research in a creative, knowledgeable and succinct manner
-Develop written and oral communication skills
-Undertake bibliographic research
-Develop competency in using electronic resources for research and writing
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Tutorials | 1 session of 1 hour (1%) |
| Private study | 131 hours (87%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Assignment 1: Oral participation | 10% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Assignment 2: 1000 word essay plan | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Assignment 3: 3,000 word essay | 50% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
- written feedback on essay and exam cover sheets\r\n- student/tutor dialogues in one-to-one tutorials\r\n
There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.