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Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Published in: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Sociology of the professions: what it means for podiatry

Authors: Olivia King, Alan Borthwick, Susan Nancarrow, Sandra Grace

Published in: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The health professions have progressed and evolved considerably over the last few decades in response to demographic, technological, societal and political changes. They continue to do so as the volume and complexity of population health needs steadily increase. Role boundary expansion is among the key changes to the health professions, including podiatry to meet demand. Nonetheless podiatry’s role boundary expansion has not been achieved swiftly or without resistance from neighbouring and dominant professions. This paper seeks to explain the nature of this resistance with respect to the sociology of the professions literature and to shed light on some of the factors and processes at play when role boundary changes arise in health care.

Discussion

Six of the most contemporaneously relevant sociology of the professions theories are summarised: Taxonomic, Marxian, Bourdieusian, Foucauldian, Boundary Work and Neo-Weberian paradigms.

Conclusion

This review highlights that some paradigms are more relevant than others in the current socio-political landscape. It also illustrates that there is a common theme underlying each approach to defining the professions and their boundaries: competition. This may help health professionals, including podiatrists, to understand and manage the challenges and resistance experienced when professions attempt to expand role boundaries to meet increasing and changing population health needs.
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Metadata
Title
Sociology of the professions: what it means for podiatry
Authors
Olivia King
Alan Borthwick
Susan Nancarrow
Sandra Grace
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1757-1146
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-018-0275-0

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