RON IPHOFEN is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Wales, Bangor, where he teaches on a range of health professional courses. He has acted as consultant on curriculum and organisational development, learning outcomes and teaching quality assessment and he is a subject specialist assessor for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. FIONA POLAND is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Wales, Bangor. As National Chair of the Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector, she promotes the development of information networks and training in the dissemination of good practice in community settings.

'With its clear layout and well-written text, this book covers fundamental sociological concepts and theories and raises serious issues about health care. It succeeds in its aim of providing healthcare professionals with the potential to engage in informed, rigorous and critical analysis of the impact of social issues in the everyday care of their patients.' - Elizabeth Chisholm, Sociology

• The Nature of Sociology: Explanations and ApplicationsThe Power to CareLearning to Care: A Lifetime of SocialisationThe Basis of Informal Care: Families and HouseholdsHealthy LearningWorking for HealthEqual and Unequal OpportunitiesInherited HealthNatural Carers: Sex and GenderCommon and Uncommon CulturesBeliefs, Moralities and Ideologies of CareControlling ConditionsThe Costs of 'Free' TimeWell-Fare, Ill-Fare, How Fair~?Modelling Health Care SociologicallyReferencesIndex.