Health Psychology

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_470730

Course Objective

Students can explain what the field of health psychology is about in the context of tertiary prevention and which psychological aspects are relevant in the treatment of diseases and coping with chronic diseases. Students can recognize and explain the fundamental elements, underlying theory and evidence-base of the following central psychological aspects: coping, self-management, adherence, hospitalization and stressful medical procedures, relapse, doctor-patient communication, health literacy and social support. Students can explain the relationships and differences between these aspects and can provide suggestions on how to influence these aspects in a evidence-based manner in the context of tertiary prevention. Students are able to recognize aspects in the reality of patients and can reflect on a concept of their choosing if and in what way real-life experiences are in accordance with the theory of the chosen concept. Students are able to develop a feasible and scientifically supported Mhealth (mobile/app) intervention plan (aimed at improving self-management, coping and/or adherence of patients with a chronic condition) in a group using Intervention Mapping, and are able to pitch this intervention idea in English.

Course Content

This course fits in the program of the specialization Prevention and Public Health. Within this specialization you are trained to become a health promoter who is able to work in a theory
- & evidence-based way and is able to link research, practice and policy. Health Psychology refers to the psychological aspects of health, illness and the health care system. In the current course ‘Health Psychology’, key psychological aspects that are relevant in the treatment of diseases and coping with chronic diseases will be studied and discussed, as well as the way we can influence these aspects. As such, this course focusses on tertiary prevention, e.g. the prevention of worsening of (chronic) diseases and improving self-reliance of patients. Questions to be studied will be for example ‘How can we improve adherence of patients with diabetes with regard to their medication?’, and ‘How can we improve communication between health care workers and their patients?’. These and other questions will be studied in several cases about key psychological aspects, which will be applied to real-life practice of patients (individual) and intervention development (group) through practical assignments. The first step will be to study underlying determinants or psychological processes of the (health) problems. Second, interventions to tackle the presented problems or research into the different problems will be studied.

Teaching Methods

This course is rewarded with 6 ECTs. Health Psychology is a part-time course, this means that 21 hours a week are necessary to pursuit the goals of this course. Attendance is mandatory for all patient-guest speakers, relapse seminar and the poster-pitches as part of the practical group assignment. During the course ‘Health Psychology’ you will obtain knowledge and understanding of: 1. Hospitalization and stressful medical procedures; 2. Coping with diseases; 3. Self-management interventions in chronic illness; 4. Adherence to advice and treatment 5. Communication processes between health care workers and their patients; 6. Health Literacy 7. Social support 8. Relapse in health related behavior among patients The course is built around these topics and every week of the course two topics will be discussed and studied during seminars. In preparation for these seminars, literature and knowledge clips have to be studied. You will use the information from the seminars to fulfill two assignments: The objective of the first assignment is to get insight into the link between theory and practice. You will link theory to personal experiences of patients who suffer from a chronic disease. The objective of the second assignment is to learn how to develop an evidence-based (Mhealth) intervention idea in the context of tertiary prevention using Intervention Mapping.

Method of Assessment

In order to pass for the course you must: 1. Attend all guest lectures by patients (pass/fail); 2. Pass an individually written report reflecting on key psychological aspects based applied to the experiences of the guest lecturers and the theory around these aspects (pass mark is 5.5 or higher); 3. Write a scientific report for the systematic development of an M-health Intervention. You will carry out this assignment in groups (pass mark is 5.5 or higher); 4. Pitch this intervention idea as a group based on an infographic in order to bring in funding (pass mark is 5.5 or higher) and attend this session (pass/fail); 5. Pass a short individual assignment on the topic of Relapse (pass/fail). The final mark for the course is being determined by:
• Assignment 1 (50%) – an individually written report based on guest lectures by patients;
• Assignment 2 (50%) – a combined grad based on the scientific report the intervention plan, the corresponding pitch and a peer-assessment score. Information regarding the resit of the assignments will be announced later through Canvas.

Literature

The following book is required for students who follow the specialization Prevention and Public Health: Bartholomew Eldredge, Parcel, Kok, Gottlieb, Fernandez (eds). Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach; fourth edition (2016). Jossey-Bass, San Fransisco. ISBN: 978-1-119-03549-7 (E-book also available) Other literature, such as book chapters and articles, will be announced on Canvas.

Target Audience

Master students Health Sciences. All other students need approval of the course coordinator and the examination committee of their own program. This course will be taught in in English, with the exception of one guest lecture by a patient.

Custom Course Registration

Registration for this course via VU-net*. *Note: final division in workgroups will be done in the first week of the course and teachers reserve the right to make this division based on group work. Registration for workgroups in VU-net will NOT be leading.

Entry Requirements

At the start of this course, we expect you to master knowledge, insight, attitude and skills at a level which is comparable to the final qualifications stated by the Bachelor Health Sciences at the VU. Knowledge about theories and models with respect to psycho-social determinants of behavior is necessary.