Medical sociology and public health: Problems and prospects for collaboration in the new millennium

Medical sociology and public health share many of the same concerns in the study of social and cultural factors that affect the health of the populati on. Differences in theoretical approaches, methodological procedures, conce ptualization and measurement, and research objectives, however, often serve to limit the potential for collaboration between the two disciplines. Soci ologists possess many of the theoretical models and analytical techniques n eeded in public health for the study of the impact of socioeconomic status, poverty, inequality, differentials in power, and social and cultural diffe rences on disease outcomes and health status. Although in the past, public health professionals were dependent primarily on the theoretical and analyt ical models offered by epidemiology and social psychology, current trends i n public health research ha ve opened a wider variety of opportunities for sociologists to contribute to public health research. Public health has rea ched a crossroads that leads in two directions: a broad approach that addre sses the sociocultural foundations of health and a more narrow approach foc using on more proximal risk factors such as individual lifestyles or health risk behaviors. This article presents a review of the factors that led to this crossroads in public health and offers suggestions as to how sociologi sts might take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the broader appro ach to public health that is gaining momentum among some public health prac titioners. Medical sociologists are uniquely equipped to assist public heal th in recapturing its historical commitment to social justice in the mainte nance of health for the entire population.