Designed as an introduction to the central issues concerning health and health care in contemporary British society, this work is written primarily for an audience of health professionals undergoing basic training. Its key aim is to convey the scope and relevance of social science concepts and theories when applied to work in health settings. Organized in a way which enables the reader to build understanding from chapter to chapter, each chapter is short and highly focused on key learning points. However, the book is designed so that each chapter can be used as a self-contained unit. Features include: a "concept box" at the beginning of each chapter to highlight the main themes and facilitate revision; exercises and activities at the end of each chapter to enable the student to consolidate knowledge and apply it to practice; and guided further reading.

Designed as an introduction to the central issues concerning health and health care in contemporary British society, this work is written primarily for an audience of health professionals undergoing basic training. Its key aim is to convey the scope and relevance of social science concepts and theories when applied to work in health settings. Organized in a way which enables the reader to build understanding from chapter to chapter, each chapter is short and highly focused on key learning points. However, the book is designed so that each chapter can be used as a self-contained unit. Features include: a "concept box" at the beginning of each chapter to highlight the main themes and facilitate revision; exercises and activities at the end of each chapter to enable the student to consolidate knowledge and apply it to practice; and guided further reading.

Islands have captured the imagination of scientists and the public for centuries - unique and rare environments, their isolation makes them natural laboratories for ecology and evolution. This authoritative, alphabetically arranged reference, featuring more than 200 succinct articles by leading scientists from around the world, provides broad coverage of all the island sciences. But what exactly is an island? The volume editors define it here as any discrete habitat isolated from other habitats by inhospitable surroundings. "The Encyclopedia of Islands" examines many such insular settings - oceanic and continental islands as well as places such as caves, mountaintops, and whale falls at the bottom of the ocean. This essential, one-stop resource, extensively illustrated with color photographs, clear maps, and graphics will introduce island science to a wide audience and spur further research on some of the planet's most fascinating habitats.