Geoffrey Harding

Sociology for Pharmacists: An Introduction is written specifically for professionals and students in pharmacy who are newcomers to the study of sociology. It introduces the key concepts of sociology and demonstrates their importance and application to pharmacy practice in the 21st century. It is unique in its role as the only text to introduce sociology specifically to pharmacists. Rather than an exhaustive treatment, the book provides a concise introduction to major perspectives in sociology-drawing on research evidence pertaining to health, illness, and professional practice-which will inform and enhance pharmacy practice. It offers an overview of sociology for rather than sociology of pharmacy, and will both inform practitioners and stimulate informed research into the social aspects of pharmacy practice.Key issues covered include:Key sociological concepts and perspectives Contemporary developments in pharmacy practice and pharmacy's professional status A review of research into the way people react to illness and look after their health How and why illness and disease are influenced by gender, ethnicity, and social class Health education and pharmacists' role in promoting health and ensuring appropriate medicine usage Social research methodsPharmacists are frequently encouraged to broaden their day-to-day practice. This timely book does just that by encouraging pharmacists to become more involved with advising clients, managing medicines, and supporting the promotion of health. In addition to providing an overview of these topics, the book also reviews the relevant research, and directs readers to further information.

This memoir of a Royal Flying Corps officer's escape from captivity in the autumn of 1917 was published in the earlier thirties, towards the end of the torrent of personal war accounts that were put into print in the years following the Armistice. He was one of some twenty-five officers from the British air services who successfully escaped, out of the 1700 or so who were taken prisoner Harding was an observer in a Bristol FE2b of 25 Squadron RFC; prior to that he had served for eighteen months with the 1st Battalion the Cheshire Regiment and had won its first Military Cross for his bravery in leading a successful trench raid near Mametz, on the Somme, in December 1915. His aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Gerald French, was shot down by a member of Richthofen's recently created so-called 'Flying Circus', flying the Albatross Scout. His career with the squadron had been a very short one, as he joined it after teh Battle of Arras had commenced on 9 April 1917. After a few weeks imprisoned in Karlsruhe he was moved to Strohen. Always keen to escape, he was joined in the attempt by Roy FitzGerald, a NewZealand born officer who was captured whilst serving with the 12th Glosters. Although this is a relatively short book, like so many memoirs of escaping officers, it is well observed throughout, from his first arrival with his squadron, and it gives a lasting impression of life in a Prisoner of War camp, its tedium, broken by the schemes and work put in hand to escape. As he admits, many prisoners were willing to see the war out, so such accounts as Harding's are far from describing the usual PoW. No matter how many accounts one reads of escapes back to the UK, the striking impression of extraordinary ingenuity in making an escape and providing necessary materials from the most unlikely of objects always stands out. Perhaps more impressive is how such young men found such depths of endurance and fortitude and, yes, bravery, in making the initial breakout and then surviving several days (in this case) on the run in hostile country and with hardly a word of German between the two of them. Lieutenant FitzGerald, alas, was killed before the war's end. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on his return to England but was lost in aerial combat whilst flying as an observer in an aircraft over Morlancourt (Somme) on 1 July 1918. Harding's account is written in a typical understated style of such British memoirs. It was a late arrival in the post war publishing frenzy. In his comments he notes that many of the memoirs then coming out: 'Some of the best sellers are those dealing with the sordid side of human nature '. 'What stands out in relief against the drab background of prison life is the fine comradeship of my fellow prisoners.'

Sociology for Pharmacists: An Introduction is written specifically for professionals and students in pharmacy who are newcomers to the study of sociology. It introduces the key concepts of sociology and demonstrates their importance and application to pharmacy practice in the 21st century. It is unique in its role as the only text to introduce sociology specifically to pharmacists. Rather than an exhaustive treatment, the book provides a concise introduction to major perspectives in sociology-drawing on research evidence pertaining to health, illness, and professional practice-which will inform and enhance pharmacy practice. It offers an overview of sociology for rather than sociology of pharmacy, and will both inform practitioners and stimulate informed research into the social aspects of pharmacy practice.Key issues covered include:Key sociological concepts and perspectives Contemporary developments in pharmacy practice and pharmacy's professional status A review of research into the way people react to illness and look after their health How and why illness and disease are influenced by gender, ethnicity, and social class Health education and pharmacists' role in promoting health and ensuring appropriate medicine usage Social research methodsPharmacists are frequently encouraged to broaden their day-to-day practice. This timely book does just that by encouraging pharmacists to become more involved with advising clients, managing medicines, and supporting the promotion of health. In addition to providing an overview of these topics, the book also reviews the relevant research, and directs readers to further information.