TY - JOUR T1 - Can sociology offer a new way of viewing our daily surgeries? JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 546 LP - 549 VL - 56 IS - 528 AU - Catherine Snape Y1 - 2006/07/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/56/528/546.abstract N2 - In general practice we are encouraged to consider the physical, psychological and social dimensions of the problems people bring to us. Sociology is the study of human society; a way of understanding not just counting. Sociologists vary in their perspectives, methods and values but share the aim of understanding and explaining the social world. As a GP I work hard not to make assumptions about people based on age, sex, and number of earrings, tattoos or facial piercing. I see individual people each day in my work, and outside. I have individual relationships, each different; I relish these differences.How then does sociology, which looks at patterns within groups of people, help me while still relating to individuals? Looking from another viewpoint can change a ‘routine surgery’.This surgery is based on real patients though some details have been changed. Some were seen after embarking on a sociology course and the insights gained had a direct impact on the content of the consultation. Others are identified from previous consultations because they illustrate a particular sociological theme. (Table 1).View this table:In this windowIn a new windowTable 1 Surgery list.Both these cases (Patients A and B) demonstrate the effect of health beliefs on medical care, and the importance of determining each individual's paradigm. The health beliefs model can be used to see the patient's perspective. These factors effect a patient's motivation to comply with medical advice. If we understand more our advice can be directed at the patient's health beliefs (Table 2).View this table:In this windowIn a new windowTable 2 Health beliefs model.Patient A had come about some more painkillers for his arthritis. We discussed it, nothing new to add, happy to plod on. I then asked if he wanted any more medication, checking on the computer and noticing he was on Adalat®, for hypertension, and amitryptyline, although it was not obvious if this … ER -