Body work is a central activity in the practice of many workers field health and social care. This article provides an introduction to concept body work--paid on bodies others--and demonstrates its importance for understanding activities care workers. Providing overview existing research work, it shows manifold ways which this can inform sociology illness--whether through micro-social focus inter-corporeal aspects care, or elucidating our times spaces highlighting relationship between...

Abstract ‘Materialities of care ’ is outlined as a heuristic device for making visible the mundane and often unnoticed aspects material culture within health social contexts, exploring interrelations between materials in practice. Three analytic strands inherent to concept are delineated: spatialities care, temporalities practices care. These interconnecting themes span articles this special issue. The explore practice across range clinical non‐clinical spaces, including hospitals, hospices,...

Abstract The internet is now a major source of health information for lay people. Within the medical, sociological and popular literatures there have been three main responses to this development. We classify these as ‘celebratory’, ‘concerned’ ‘contingent’. This paper falls into third category and, drawing on techniques discourse analysis, examines people's accounts their use online resources. It identifies six implicit rules – which we call ‘rhetorics reliability’– that people readily draw...

This paper is a direct response to Wilkinson’s (1996) call for more research into housing insecurity and health. It explores the consequences of mortgage arrears both health indebted home owners their use primary care services. based on results secondary analysis British Household Panel Survey . demonstrates that experience indebtedness has an independent effect subjective well being men women, it increases likelihood will visit general practitioners. The draws upon sociological notions...

This article argues that the emergence and growth of internet use in Britain has important implications for analysis social policy. It attempts to outline a research agenda policy relation one particular aspect use, on-line self-help support – what we term here virtual-community care . The presents data on patterns home based outlines some contemporary debates about importance support. also considers how is being used with emphasis emerging situation Britain. Three illustrations are...

This article asks the question, is it possible to decipher a new ‘medical cosmology’ that possesses an elective affinity with contemporary socio-technological changes? It tentatively answers in positive and attempts identify parameters of medical cosmology terms e-scaped medicine.To discern conceptual underpinnings medicine draws on De Mul’s theorization ‘informatization worldview’.The elaborates this thesis relation medicine’s prime object - body number practices surround it.

Abstract Sociologists of health and illness have tended to overlook the architecture buildings used in care. This contrasts with medical geographers who yielded a body work on significance places spaces experience illness. A review sociological studies role built environment performance practice uncovers an important vein work, worthy further study. Through historically situated example hospital architecture, this article seeks tease out substantive methodological issues that can inform...

Abstract Policy efforts directed at encouraging physical activity have had minimal success to date. Drawing on Bourdieu's theory of practice, we suggest that a social practice framing might provide useful ways thinking about why and how some practices do could change. This article takes three case studies transformations in mobility explore conditions possibility for change, using secondary analysis qualitative data from cycling London fell running the English Lake District. Three modes...

Objectives To explore junior doctors’ knowledge about and experiences of managing patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) to seek their recommendations for improved future training on this important topic which they currently receive little education. Design Qualitative study using in-depth interviews analysed the framework method. Setting Participants were recruited from three North Thames London hospitals within UK. Twenty-two doctors undertaking UK foundation two-year programme...

Abstract The aim of this paper is to explore the consequences modernisation and regulatory processes for everyday lives doctors working UK National Health Service. We do by reporting on interview data generated as part a qualitative investigation into 47 doctors. analysis empirical findings informed two literatures: that which has sought theorise contemporary thrust regulation audit developed sociology embodiment. Doctors’ views are presented in relation four areas work have – loosest sense...

To provide new insights into heroin users' eating patterns in order to inform nutritional interventions.Seventy-seven audio-recorded in-depth interviews which elicited detailed data on patterns.Community and residential drug services, pharmacies peer support groups Southern England, UK.Forty current or ex-heroin users (21 men 19 women), of whom 37 (20 17 women) were re-interviewed after 3 months.Audio transcribed verbatim, coded systematically analysed inductively.Heroin influenced by...

Long Covid is an activity-limiting condition that causes significant long-term impairment can last up to one year or longer and impacts labour participation. 'Episodic disability' apt conceptual framework comprehend the fluctuating impairments of those with barriers they encounter when returning employment. Drawing on 65 narrative interviews, conducted between 2021 2022, from three UK studies involving adults Covid, this article demonstrates how participants experienced a 'spoiled identity',...

This article examines contemporary conceptualizations of the relationship between information, reflexivity and health in information age. It suggests that significance policies broaden access to Internet will not fundamentally alter structural relations, nor it social epidemiology welfare outcomes manner suggested by some advocates aimed at constructing `expert' citizens through processes ever greater informatization. However, may lead profound changes level epistemology proliferation...