Health Sociology
Health, illness and society
The main social problems and issues examined in all my publications are listed below indicating as KEYWORDS the specific aspects investigated, followed by the relevant publications that report the research findings.
Themes
Public Health and Epidemiology
KEYWORDS: Disability-adjusted life year (DALY); Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE); Disease outcomes; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Global health; Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE); Infectious diseases; Public health; Health risks; Sentinels; illness surveillance. Behavioral factors in public health; alcohol; drugs; epidemiology of injuries; nutrition; obesity; inactivity; tobacco use; violence; demography; epidemiology; environmental epidemiology, occupational epidemiology; epidemiology of diseases; anemia; cancer; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes mellitus; disease prevention; emerging and re-emerging diseases; infectious diseases; neurological diseases; parasitic diseases; psychological and psychiatric disorders; respiratory diseases; sensory disorders; ethical and professional issues in epidemiology; health inequalities; health services; health systems; history of epidemiology; history of public health; aging and public health; at-risk populations; child health; adolescent health; sexual and reproductive health; health services; health systems; health inequalities; ethical and professional issues in public health; and epidemiology and public policy.
Quah, Stella R., Editor-in-Chief (2024) International Encyclopedia of Public Health. 3rd Edition, Elsevier. Seven volumes. As of 15 June 2024, all articles are available online at ScienceDirect ahead of printed publication on 16 September 2024. https://shop.elsevier.com/books/international-encyclopedia-of-public-health/quah/978-0-323-99967-0
Quah, Stella R. (2024) “Public health and epidemiology in a perilous world”. Elsevier Reference Collection in Biomedical Sciences | ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978032399967000171X And International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 3rd ed. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00171-X
Public health and epidemics
KEYWORDS: Epidemics, SARS, governance, public trust, public perception of susceptibility, crisis management appraisal, quarantine acceptance, Singapore, Hong Kong; Epidemics, Ebola, risk prevention, community engagement, individual- and community-level predictors, subjective perception of severity and susceptibility, public image of disease, consensus-building, trust, collective informed consent
Quah, Stella R. (2024) "Trust and public health communication of science-based evidence: Crucial public health components of the management of pandemics", Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, ScienceDirect, and International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 3rd Edition. Elsevier.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323999670002180
Quah, Stella R. (2023) “Social dimensions of epidemics”, Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, ScienceDirect, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00003-X
Quah, S.R. (2020) "Wrestling with role strain in a pandemic: Family, 'Stay-at-home' directive, and the COVID-19 pandemic", Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 51, 3-4, pp. e1-e18. https://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.51.3-4.002
Quah, Stella R. and Lee Hin Peng (2004) "Crisis Prevention and Management during SARS Outbreak, Singapore," Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10 (2):364-368. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1002.030418
Leung, G.M., Quah, Stella, Ho, L.M., Ho, S.Y., Hedley, A.J., Lee, H.P., and Lam, T.H. (2004) "A Tale of Two Cities: Community psychobehavioral surveillance and related impact on outbreak control in Hong Kong and Singapore during the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic", Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 25(12) December, 1033-1041. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/502340
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Pandemic preparedness and response”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behaviour and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 4: 1737-1741. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs354
Quah, Stella R. (2008) "Management of Epidemics". In V.N. Parrillo (ed), Encyclopedia of Social Problems. Volume 1. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, 326-327.
Quah, Stella R. (2007) "Public image and governance of epidemics: Comparing HIV/AIDS and SARS," Health Policy, 80, 253-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2006.03.002
KEYWORDS: Epidemics, SARS, governance, public trust, public perception of susceptibility, crisis management appraisal, quarantine acceptance, Singapore, Hong Kong
Quah, Stella R. and Lee Hin Peng (2004)"Crisis Prevention and Management during SARS Outbreak, Singapore," Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10 (2):364-368.
https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1002.030418
Leung, G.M., Quah, Stella, Ho, L.M., Ho, S.Y., Hedley, A.J., Lee, H.P., and Lam, T.H. (2004) "A Tale of Two Cities: Community psychobehavioral surveillance and related impact on outbreak control in Hong Kong and Singapore during the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic", Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 25(12) December, 1033-1041. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/502340
Quah, Stella R. ed. (2007) Crisis Preparedness: Asia and the Global Governance of Epidemics. Stanford, CA: Stanford Shorenstein APARC & Brookings Institution. Editor and contributor.
Quah, Stella R. (2007a) "Governance of Epidemics: Is there reason for concern?". In S.R. Quah, ed., Crisis Preparedness: Asia and the Global Governance of Epidemics. Stanford: APARC and Brookings Institution, pp. 11-23.
Quah, Stella R. (2007b) "On Trust and Health Consensus-building in the Governance of Epidemics". In S.R. Quah, ed., Crisis Preparedness: Asia and the Global Governance of Epidemics. Stanford: APARC and Brookings Institution, pp. 113-133.
Illness and disability
KEYWORDS: Disability-adjusted life year (DALY); Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE); Disease outcomes; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Global health; Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE); Infectious diseases; Public health; Health risks; Sentinels; illness surveillance.
Quah, Stella R. (2018) “Disability, Illness and Health Risks: Public Health and Epidemiology Approaches”, Elsevier Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, 1-13. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.66190-1
KEYWORDS: Behavioral factors in public health; alcohol; drugs; epidemiology of injuries; nutrition; obesity; inactivity; tobacco use; violence; demography; epidemiology; environmental epidemiology, occupational epidemiology; epidemiology of diseases; anemia; cancer; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes mellitus; disease prevention; emerging and re-emerging diseases; infectious diseases; neurological diseases; parasitic diseases; psychological and psychiatric disorders; respiratory diseases; sensory disorders; ethical and professional issues in epidemiology; health inequalities; health services; health systems; history of epidemiology; history of public health; aging and public health; at-risk populations; child health; adolescent health; sexual and reproductive health
Quah, S.R. and Cockerham, W.C. eds. (2017) International Encyclopedia of Public Health. 2nd Edition. London: Academic Press-Elsevier https://www.sciencedirect.com/referencework/9780128037089/international-encyclopedia-of-public-health
Heggenhougen, Kris and Quah, Stella R., eds. (2008) International Encyclopedia of Public Health. 1st Edition. London: Elsevier. Six Volumes. Editor and contributor.
KEYWORDS: medical sociology, health psychology, public health application, theories, methodologies
Quah, Stella R. (2022) “Sociology and Psychology in Public Health”. In Roger Detels, Q.A. Karim, Fran Baum, Liming Li, and A.H. Leyland, eds., Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health. 7th Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, Chapter 6.1, Volume 2, pp. 291-306. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198816805.003.0044
Quah, Stella R. (2021) “Health and culture in a global context.” In William C. Cockerham, ed., The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology. Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 62-81. ISBN 9781119633761
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119633808.ch4
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KEYWORDS: Health, family, gender, health behavior, health care systems, medical geography, medical sociology, health psychology, medical anthropology, health organizations, health policy, illness behavior, medical education, mental health, race and health, social class and health, stress, social science theories on health.
W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds. (2014) The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell. Editor and contributor. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868
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KEYWORDS: public health aspects of sexual and reproductive health, epidemiology, demography, infectious diseases, mental and neurological disorders, health systems finance and organizations
Van Look, P., Heggenhougen, K., and Quah, S.R. (2011) Sexual and Reproductive Health. Burlington, MA and London: Elsevier. http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780128102329&pagename=search
Killewo, J., Heggenhougen, K.H., and Quah, S.R., eds. (2010) Epidemiology and Demography in Public Health. London: Elsevier. Editor and contributor. http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780123822000&pagename=search
Hamer, D., Griffiths, J.K., Maguire, J.H., Heggenhougen, H.K., and Quah, S.R. eds., (2010) Public Health and Infectious Diseases. London: Elsevier http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780123815064&pagename=search
Patel, V., Woodward, A., Feigin, V.L., Heggenhougen, H.K., and Quah, S.R., eds. (2010) Mental and Neurological Public Health: A Global Perspective. London: Elsevier. http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780128102022&pagename=search
Quah, Stella R. (2006) "Health: Sexually transmitted diseases in East Asia, Australia and the Pacific." In Joseph, Suad (ed), Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, Volume 3. Bedfordshire, UK: Brill, pp 223-225.
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KEYWORDS: Disease burden predictors, sex differences, domestic burden of disease, DALYs, risk-factors, malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, unintended injuries
Quah, Stella R. (2011) “Gender and the burden of disease in ten Asian countries: An exploratory analysis,” Asia Europe Journal, volume 8, No.4, 499-512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10308-011-0286-y
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KEYWORDS: public health, high-rise dwellings, Singapore, public housing
Phoon. W. O., Quah, Stella, Tye, C. Y. and Leong, H.K. (1976) "A Preliminary Study of the Health of a Population Staying in High Rise Apartments in Singapore," Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 70, 2, 231-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00034983.1976.11687117
Drug addiction (psychoactive drug use)
KEYWORDS: drug addiction, personal autonomy, choice, ethical intervention, harm reduction, harm prevention, community harm prevention, ascertaining harm reduction, physical harm, mental harm, cannabis, needle and syringe program, opioid substitution therapy, rehabilitation
Quah, Stella R. (2020) “From harm reduction to harm prevention: A cross-national comparison of eleven countries”, Home Team Journal, Special Issue, January, 4-16.
Quah, Stella R. (2017) “Illicit psychoactive substance use and Harm Prevention” International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2nd ed. Oxford: Academic Press, Volume 4, 157-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00521-X
KEYWORDS: drug addiction, peer influence, cultural customs, beliefs, occupation, risk environment
Quah, Stella R. (2017) “Historical and socio-cultural context of psychoactive substance use”, International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2nd ed. Oxford: Academic Press, Volume 4, 1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00421-5
Family caregivers and illness in the family
KEYWORDS: Family stress, family caregivers, role distress, role overload, quality of life, culture, care burden, positive aspects of caregiving, mental illness, schizophrenia, mental health services, Singapore
Quah, Stella R. (2017) “Partnership: The missing link in the process of de-institutionalization of mental health care”, International Journal of Health Services, 47, 3:532-549. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731415614512
Quah, Stella R. (2015) “Illness and caregiving in the family”. In S.R. Quah (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Families in Asia. London: Routledge, 359-374. ISBN 978-0-415-71546-1
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Caring for persons with schizophrenia at home: Examining the link between family caregivers’ role distress and quality of life,” Sociology of Health and Illness, 36, 4: 596-612, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12091
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KEYWORDS: Positive aspects of caregiving, stroke, longitudinal studies, Singapore
Malhotra R., Chei CL, Menon, EB, Chow WL, Quah S, Chan A, Ajay S, Matchar DB (2018) “Trajectories of positive aspects of caregiving among family caregivers of stroke-survivors: the differential impact of stroke-survivor disability”, Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, https://doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2018.1455369
Malhotra, R., Chei, C.L., Menon, E., Chow, W.L., Quah, S.R., Chan, A., and Matchar, D. (2016) “Short-term trajectories of depressive symptoms in stroke survivors and their family caregivers”, Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 25, 1:172-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.09.012
Culture, illness, and health policy
KEYWORDS: traditional healing systems; traditional Chinese medicine; acupuncture; ethos of science; pragmatic acculturation; ethnicity, health behavior, health education, food choices, self-medication, culture, health beliefs and attitudes, preventive health behavior, health education, informed consent, the health belief model
Quah, Stella R. (2021) “Health and culture in a global context.” In William C. Cockerham, ed., The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology. Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 62-81. ISBN 9781119633761, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119633808.ch4
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Health and culture”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behaviour and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2: 926-934. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs012
Quah, S.R. (2008) “In Pursuit of Health: Pragmatic Acculturation in Everyday Life”, Health Sociology Review, 17, 4, 419-421. https://doi.org/10.5172/hesr.451.17.4.419
Quah, Stella R. (2003) "Traditional Healing Systems and the Ethos of Science," Social Science and Medicine, 57, 10, pp. 1997-2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00078-9
Quah, Stella R. and Slikkerveer, L. Jan, eds. (2003) Traditional Healing Systems: Negotiating Science and Technology Challenges. Leiden, Netherlands: Leiden Ethnosystems and Development Programme, Institute of Cultural Studies, Leiden University. 154 pp. Editor and contributor.
Straughan, P., Quah, S.R. and Seow, A. (2003) "Tradition in the midst of modernity: Pragmatism and the health-seeking behaviour of Singaporeans." In S.R. Quah and L.J. Slikkerveer, eds., Traditional Healing Systems: Negotiating Science and Technology Challenges. Leiden, Netherlands; LEAD, Leiden University, pp. 95-107
Seow, A., Quah, Stella R., Nyam, D., Straughan, P., Chua, T., and Aw, T.C. (2002) "Food Groups and the risk of colorectal carcinoma in an Asian population," Cancer, 95 (11): 2390-2396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.10971
Quah, Stella R. (1993) "Ethnicity, Health Behavior and Modernization: The Case of Singapore." In P. Conrad and E.B. Gallagher, eds., Health and Health Care in Developing Countries. Sociological Perspectives. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, pp. 78-107.
Quah, Stella R. ed. (1989a) The Triumph of Practicality: Tradition and Modernity in Health Care Utilization in Selected Asian Countries. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 196pp. Editor and contributor. https://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/523
Quah, Stella R. (1989b) "The Triumph of Practicality". In S.R. Quah, ed. The Triumph of Practicality: Tradition and Modernity in Health Care Utilization in Selected Asian Countries. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies [ISEAS], 1-18.
Quah, Stella R. (1989c) "The Best Bargain: Medical Options in Singapore". In Stella R. Quah, ed. The Triumph of Practicality: Tradition and Modernity in Health Care Utilization in Selected Asian Countries. Singapore: ISEAS, 122-159.
Quah, Stella R. (1989d) "Confirming the Triumph of Practicality". In S. R. Quah, ed. The Triumph of Practicality: Tradition and Modernity in Health Care Utilization in Selected Asian Countries. Singapore: ISEAS, 180-195.
Quah, Stella R. and Li, Jing-wei (1989d) "Marriage of Convenience: Traditional and Modern Medicine in the People's Republic of China". In Stella R. Quah, ed. The Triumph of Practicality: Tradition and Modernity in Health Care Utilization in Selected Asian Countries. Singapore: ISEAS, 19-42.
Quah, Stella (1981) "Current status of health behaviour research in Singapore". In WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Proceedings. Working Group on Research in Health Education in Family Health. Manila: WHO, 39-44
Quah, Stella R. (1979) Socioeconomic Variations in the Perception of Side-effects of Contraceptives. Singapore: SEAPRAP Research Report No. 34. 67pp.
KEYWORDS: gender, preventive health behavior, healing roles
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Healing and gender roles”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behaviour and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2: 751-756. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs018
Quah, Stella R. (1990) "Gender Roles, Family Roles and Health Behaviour: Pursuing the Hidden Link", Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, 18, 2, 51-69.
Quah, Stella (1987) "Gender and Disease Prevention in Singapore". In E. Isomura et.al, eds., Proceedings 2nd Asian Conference on Health & Medical Sociology. Tokyo: The Japanese Society of Health and Medical Sociology, 136-141
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KEYWORDS: health policy, health services accessibility, policy intervention
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Singapore health care delivery system”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behaviour and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2: 848-856. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs016
Carrin, G., Buse, K., Heggenhougen, H.K., and Quah, S.R., (eds), (2009) Health Systems Finance, Policy and Organization. London and San Diego, CA: Elsevier. http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780123750877&pagenamesearch
Quah, Stella R. (1992) "Social and Ethical Aspects of Organ Donation," Transplantation Proceedings, 24, 5, 2097-20-98.
Quah, Stella R. (1992) "AIDS and us: Are we Failing to Prevent a Highly Preventable Disease? Singapore Medical Journal, 33, 5, 484-488. http://smj.sma.org.sg/3305/3305a10.pdf
Quah, Stella R. (1989) "The Patient's Right to Know: Some Sociological Considerations", Singapore Medical Journal, 30, 2, 184-188. http://smj.sma.org.sg/3002/3002a13.pdf
Quah, Stella R. (1988) "Private Choices and Public Health: A Case of Policy Intervention in Singapore", Asian Journal of Public Administration, 10, 2 (December), 207-224.
Quah, Stella R. (1981) "Health Policy and Traditional Medicine in Singapore", Social Science & Medicine, 15A, 2, 149-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(85)90112-1
Quah, Stella (1977a) "Accessibility of Modern and Traditional Health Services in Singapore", Social Science & Medicine, 11, 5, 333- 340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0037-7856(77)90191-3
Concepts and theories on health
KEYWORDS: concepts, theories, culture, health policy, health education, health-related stigma, pragmatic acculturation, rationalization of health care, mixed utilization of health services, illness behavior, health care delivery system
Quah, Stella R. (2017) “Health-related stigma” International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2nd ed. Oxford: Academic Press, Volume 3, 508-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00197-1
Quah, Stella R. (2015) "Pragmatic Acculturation". In G. Ritzer (Ed), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosp128.pub2
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Health and culture”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2: 926-934. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs012
[For an in-depth and updated discussion of this topic see Quah, Stella R. (2021) “Health and Culture in a Global Context” listed in the Culture and Illness tab above].
Quah Stella R. (2014) “Rationalization”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 4: 2046-2051. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs019
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Mixed utilization of medical systems”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 3: 1438-1444. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs014
Quah, Stella R. (2014) “Illness behaviour”. In W.C. Cockerham, R. Dingwall and S.R. Quah, eds, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behaviour and Society. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 3: 1209-1214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118410868.wbehibs024
Quah, Stella (1998) "Ethnicity, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Public Health Education," International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 18, 7, 1-26
Quah, Stella R. (1986) "Social science and illness prevention: Overview of the Health Belief Model", Journal of Social and Economic Studies, 3, 4, 345-357.
Quah, Stella R. (1985a) "Self-medication in Singapore" Singapore Medical Journal, 26, 2, 123-129. http://smj.sma.org.sg/2602/2602smj2.pdf
Quah, Stella R. (1985b) "The Health Belief Model and Preventive health behaviour in Singapore", Social Science & Medicine, 21, 3, 351-363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(85)90112-1
Quah, Stella (1977b) "Self-medication: A Neglected Dimension of Health Behaviour", Sociological Symposium, 19, Summer, 20-36.
Quah, Stella R. (1985a) "Self-medication in Singapore" Singapore Medical Journal, 26, 2, 123-129. http://smj.sma.org.sg/2602/2602smj2.pdf
Quah, Stella R. (1985b) "The Health Belief Model and Preventive health behaviour in Singapore", Social Science & Medicine, 21, 3, 351-363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(85)90112-1
Quah, Stella (1977b) "Self-medication: A Neglected Dimension of Health Behaviour", Sociological Symposium, 19, Summer, 20-36.