Self-assessment of health as a sociological category and category of public health

Authors

  • Marina Yu. Surmach Grodno State Medical University, 80 M. Gorkaga Street, Grodna 230009, Belarus

Keywords:

self-assessment of health, public health, population health indicators, measurement of population health indicators, the social component of health, methodology for measuring the social component of health

Abstract

The methodology of measuring the self-assessment of the population’s health is analysed, as well as the specifics of using this indicator in various fields. The transformation of the vector of scientific research in healthcare is shown. When studying the content of routine assessments of public health, specialists switch their attention from quantitative indicators recorded by industry statistics to complex data, including the results of subjective assessments obtained through sociological methods. It is emphasised that traditional methods of public health research (analysis of statistical indicators) are objective, but do not allow us to get a complete picture of the health of the population at the territorial and state levels and develop a set of measures aimed at strengthening it. The objectivity of traditionally used statistical indicators directly depends on the quality (completeness and coverage) of recording the phenomenon in statistical accounting, the presence of certain barriers, including those caused by untimely citizens seeking medical help. Thus, these indicators do not allow us to take into account the social component of health, which is inherently subjective. It is determined by personal factors, motives and patterns of behaviour. The study of the social component of health can only be carried out using sociological methods. At the same time, subjective sociological indicators can provide broader information for analysis, since they indirectly characterise the health of those respondents who do not seek medical help. The possibilities of using the self-assessment indicator of health, proven in the course of epidemiological studies at the population level, are revealed. The differences between standardised (as part of questionnaires on quality of life developed by experts of the World Health Organisation) and original methodological approaches in the study of self-assessment of public health are demonstrated. The prospects of using this indicator in the practical healthcare of the Republic of Belarus are revealed, in particular in the procedures for assessing the social effectiveness of medical technologies and statistical observations.

Author Biography

  • Marina Yu. Surmach, Grodno State Medical University, 80 M. Gorkaga Street, Grodna 230009, Belarus

    doctor of science (medicine), full professor; head of the department of public health and health services

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Published

2024-09-30

Issue

No. 3 (2024): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Sociology

Section

To Know so that to Foresee...

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How to Cite

Self-assessment of health as a sociological category and category of public health. (2024). Journal of the Belarusian State University. Sociology, 3, 52-58. https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/sociology/article/view/6487