Culture and Health

Most Western health professionals practice in multicultural societies. The influence of culture on illness, health and rehabilitation is therefore very important. Despite this, most lower level health psychology texts skim over these differences and assume our traditional biomedical approach will be appropriate for all. Most health professionals now practice in multicultural societies. The influence of culture on illness, health and rehabilitation is therefore very important. Culture and Health considers the practical implications of working with people from different cultures. It takes an explicitly critical perspective to explore the many fascinating interplays between culture and health, situating them within the broader social contexts in which they arise. Written in an engaging and accessible style, this second edition has been extensively revised and updated, and now includes a chapter on Global Health. It contains many helpful case studies and each chapter ends with guidelines for professional practice. Retaining a strong focus on the clinician’s perspective, Culture and Health is recommended for both students and qualified practitioners alike. It is essential reading for practising professionals and students of psychology, medicine, nursing, social work, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. It is also a valuable resource for health service managers and planners. From reviews of the first edition: “MacLachlan is at his most interesting when recounting tales of cultural diversity” —British Medical Journal “…health workers have a great deal to learn from this volume...of great value and interest are the many illustrations of health related cultural phenomena…” —British Journal of Health Psychology Most Western health professionals practice in multicultural societies. The influence of culture on illness, health and rehabilitation is therefore very important. Despite this, most lower level health psychology texts skim over these differences and assume our traditional biomedical approach will be appropriate for all. In this completely revised and updated edition of a groundbreaking book, Malcolm MacLachlan redresses the balance by showing how social and cultural aspects interact with the purely physical: from assessment and treatment all the way through to effects on rehabilitation.