It's not just to treat everybody the same

A social justice framework for caring for larger patients in healthcare practice

Bibliographic Data

ID2250071
AuthorsDeana Kanagasingam (0000-0001-6070-5625, School of Kinesiology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada, corresponding author), Moss E Norman (0000-0001-9651-3262, University of British Columbia), Moss Norman (School of Kinesiology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada), Laura Hurd (0000-0003-1913-348X, School of Kinesiology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada)
Year2022
Volume44
Issue6
Pages899-918
Publication date2022-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13470
PMID35434819
OpenAlexW4224136083
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited59

Drawing on semi-structured interviews with larger bodied patients (n = 20) and their healthcare practitioners (n = 22) in Canada, this paper combines micro and macro approaches in outlining a social justice approach to caring for larger patients in healthcare practice. Theoretically, we draw upon structural competency and critical consciousness to address the question of how social justice is enacted, experienced, and understood in interactions between clinicians and larger patients. Our findings highlight four key themes that provide a framework for integrating social justice into healthcare practice: (1) an awareness of one's simultaneous experience of marginalisation and privilege in the clinical interaction; (2) navigating between additive and interactive understandings of intersectionality; (3) micro and macro approaches to change; and (4) straddling the line between equity and equality. The synergies in participants' perspectives across social identities suggests that the cultivation of social justice awareness potentially mitigates some blinders of privilege. Furthermore, practitioners' social justice orientation positively impacted patient experience, with most patients expressing appreciation for having their various histories of trauma and social challenges handled compassionately during appointments

Criminology · Economic Justice · Equity (law) · Health care · Health equity · Intersectionality · Political science · Privilege (computing) · Public relations · Social justice · Sociology · Gender Studies · Interprofessional Education and Collaboration · Law · Obesity and Health Practices · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Psychology · Social Psychology

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