Miwako Hosoda

Dr. Hosoda has been doing her research observing human relations in the health-care field. She is particularly interested in the coordination of people who are coping with medical health issues, the individual experience of patients during their illness, the relationships among healthcare providers, the activities of patient associations, the application of bioethics and medical-ethics, and the question of social stigma and discrimination that is illness related.   

Her initial research was conducted in Japan from 1995 to 1996, which was requested by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Nurses’ Aides Problems Study Board.  Dr. Hosoda created 12 types of questionnaires and processed 6,000 data samples.  Her team analyzed the issues and problems regarding nurses’ aides.  From July to August in 1996, Dr. Hosoda did fieldwork at a general hospital. This research focused on the relationships among healthcare providers, as well as the relationship between healthcare providers and patients, which were then analyzed. Special attention was paid to the concept of “team medical-care.”  

From 2001 to 2003, Dr. Hosoda worked on “The Guidelines for Newborn Babies with Severe Illnesses and Disabilities” as a member of the working group belonging to the Board organized by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor.  From 2000 to 2005, Dr. Hosoda conducted in-depth interviews with 27 stroke survivors and observed participants at three self-help groups to explore their experiences after strokes.  In September 2005, Dr. Hosoda focused her research on a patients’ support groups for newborns.  In addition, she has been conducting her fieldwork on Zen-Ryo-Kyo, a patients’ association of Hansen’s Disease, since 2004. 

Most recently Dr. Hosoda has conducted fieldwork studies regarding the social movement against the revision of the Social Insurance Medical Fee, which is the public health insurance option in Japan. In reference to the studies available about Health Social Movements, she analyzes the movement and wishes to connect the health related social movement with “Medical Governance” in order to highlight need for partnership among general public, medical professionals and government.  

Hosoda, M. 2008, Overview and critique of DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Years), Normalization, VOl.28, No.10, 49-52.

Hosoda, M, 2007, Shakaigakutteki ni mita Wagakuni no Kazoku (The Japanese Family: From a Viewpoint of Sociology), Kannwakea (Palliative Care), Vol.17. Suppl. Oct, pp.7-10.

Hosoda, M, 2007, Syougai-Jyuyo (Acceptance of Disability: From a Sociological Perspective, Sogo Rehabilitation), Sogorihabiritesyonn (Total Rehabilitation), Vol. 35, No.10, pp.1247-1250.

Hosoda, M, 2007, Kodo Gurinn go no Amerika Kanngo Jijyo  (American Nursing Condition After “Code Green”), Nursing Business, Vol.1, No.7, pp12-15.

Hosoda, M, 2005, Kannwakea niokeru Tiimu-Iryo no Rinnri (Medical Ethics of Team Health-Care at the Palliative Care: How to Consider the Diversity of the Sense of Value), Kannwakea (Palliative Care), Vol.15, No.2, pp.110-115.

Hosoda M, 2003, Seitai Kannisyoku Iryo: Fukakujitsusei to Kazokuai niyoru Gisei (Living Related Liver Transplantation: A Fictitious of Medical Support by Uncertainty and Family Love, Kazoku Syakaigaku Kenkyu (Japanese Journal of Family Sociology), Vol.14, No.2, pp.148-156.

Hosoda M, 2001, “Tiimu-Iryo” towa Nanika(What is “Team Health Care”?), Hokenn Iryo Shakai Gaku Ronsyu (The Japanese Journal of Health and Medical Sociology), Vol.12, pp.88-101..

Hosoda M, 2001, “Iryojiko” no Syakaiteki Haikei (The Social Background of the “Medical Accident”: Performers in the Hospital as a Microcosm), Gendai Shakai-Riron Kenkyu (The Journal of Studies in Contemporary Social Theory), Vol.11, pp.239-252. 

Hosoda M, 2000, Iryo ni okeru Kannjya to Syojyuujisya eno siza (A Perspective on Patients and Staffs in the Contemporary Medical Scene), Sociologos, Vol.24, pp.79-95.

Hosoda M: Byouinn ni Okeru Iryojyuujisya no Soshikininnsiki (How Do the Health Care Staffs Recognize the Organization of a Hospital), Gendai Shakai-Riron Kenkyu (The Journal of Studies in Contemporary Social Theory), Vol.10, pp.235-266, 2000.