title: [Disciplinary organization of medical sociology--a contribution to the dialogue with social medicine].
abstract: According to Karl Popper scientific disciplines are characterized by a body of observational knowledge, a specific methodology and terminology and a set of more or less successful theories. This article tries to delineate the disciplinary structure of medical sociology in terms of five important areas of knowledge: 1. sociology of health lifestyles (prevention); 2. sociology of patients careers (rehabilitation); 3. sociology of client-professional interaction (diagnosis, therapy); 4. sociological (social epidemiological) studies of causes of health and disease; 5. sociology of health care systems. It is argued that intensified exchange according to these areas between the academic disciplines of medical sociology and social medicine is needed to generate a significant impact on future training and research both in medicine and in public health.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegrist
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D012936:Social Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D012962:Sociology, Medical / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*
vernacular_title: Die disziplinäre Gestalt der Medizinischen Soziologie--ein Beitrag zum Dialog mit der Sozialmedizin.