Main description:

Technological innovations and new drugs have led to an explosion in the costs of medical care, and also to the realization among both medical and allied practitioners and patients that such innovation has not necessarily led to more effective care. A gap exists between theory and real-life practice - one that this book attempts to bridge. Thought-provoking essays by an array of distinguished contributors, based on contemporary research and wide-ranging experience in clinical practice, show how we can and must go beyond pure technology in order to improve clinical care. Cultural and social factors on the part of the patients; the practitioner's own personality and other soft factorsA"; society trends such as increased migration; communication skills; techniques ranging from mindfulness, cognitive psychology, and narrative medicine, to humor. All these and other human factors that medical professionals and those in training (physicians, nurses, counselors, and others) need to integrate into practice to provide effective and cost-effective care are explored and illuminated here by leading experts from a variety of disciplines.

Contents:

Table of Contents (preliminary) Part I: Introduction Part II: Culture, Health, and Medicine Evolutionary Aspects in Medicine by Martin Brune Circadian Misalignment and The Medical Profession by Timo Partonen Psychopharmacology, Culture, and Psychological Well-Being by Bruce Kirkcaldy, Adrian Furnham, & Georg Siefen Part III: Personality and Health Outcome Determinants: Medical Professionals Trains of Thought: Physicians' Work-Life Satisfaction, Career Motivation, and the Personal Qualities of an Effective Physician by Richard J. Bogue & R. Lukman Characteristics of the Job and Well-Being Among the Medical Professions by Bruce Kirkcaldy, Rudiger Trimpop, & Terrence Martin Selecting a Medical Practitioner by Adrian Furnham Training the Trainers by Dinesh Bhugra & Gurvinder Kalra Part IV: Cultural and Individual Differences Aspects in Patient Care Patient Involvement in Medical Management: Attitudes of Patients and Healthcare Professionals and Implications for Clinical Practice by Rachel Davis & Charles Vincent Migrant Health: Idioms of Distress by Jutta Lindert The Role of Professionals in Treating Immigrants and Refugees with Drug Abuse Problems and Their Families by Alexander-Stamatios & Marina Dalla Health Professionals: Dealing With Difficult Clients & Difficult Situations by Lorraine Sherr & Natasha Croome Part V: Cognitive Psychology and Medical/Therapeutic Care Mindfulness as a Treatment for Health Problems by Shauna Shapiro & Caitlin L. Burnham Cognitive Psychology's Contribution to Medical Care by Michael Eysenck Humor and Other Positive Interventions in Medical and Therapeutic Settings by Willi Ruch, F.A. Rodden, & R.T. Proyer Part VI: Literary and Economic Aspects of Medicine The Economic Dimensions of Medical Practice by Douglas McCulloch Narrative Medicine: Stories to Some Purpose by John Skelton Contributors