| CODE | PSY5645 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Long-Term Health Conditions | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Psychology | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Recent Maltese (NHSS) health policies have made reference to the critical role of patient expertise in the self-management of health and illness. Health psychologists play an important role in developing expert patients and facilitating long-term self-care of chronic conditions. This study-unit is thus critical for future health psychologist as it will examine the nature of patient expertise and identify ways how to both facilitate and evaluate of self-management interventions. Furthermore this study-unit will explore, from a bio-psychosocial perspective, the most common long-term health conditions which are especially problematic on a global scale in this day and age, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, HIV, cancer and pain. Topics explored include: 1. Health-related behaviour - Theoretical models - Protective/promotional behaviour - Behavioural risk factors - Sociocultural factors related to aetiology and management of long-term health conditions 2. Long term conditions - Aetiology & epidemiology of long term conditions - Biological mechanisms and progress of long term conditions - Interventions in long term conditions - Health related QoL - Issues in caring for the long-term ill - Prioritising risk and clinical decision making using research based evidence and reflection on practice - The service users journey through the disease process; including social, physiological, psychological and financial aspects and the impact on significant others and communities - Legal, ethical and frameworks applied to the management of long term conditions - The role of the multidisciplinary team in the management of long term conditions - Specific interventions in chronic conditions and mental illness Study-unit Aims: This study unit aims to: - Encourage a critical understanding of the biopsychosocial and cognitive influences on chronic illness and their management; - Encourage a critical understanding of the experience of the chronic condition, from a service user, family and societal perspective; - Equip students with skills in selecting, designing interventions for particular long-term conditions according to best practice; - Provide an opportunity for students to practice the knowledge and skills learnt. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically evaluate the contributions and limitations of health psychology in addressing chronic conditions and their various problems and issues; - Describe various problem scenarios and issues pertinent to the practice of chronic condition management in health psychology through the integration of health psychology models and theories; - Demonstrate knowledge of the aetiology and pathophysiology of common long term conditions and evaluate health promoting strategies to reduce associated complications; - Critically evaluate evidence-based health protocols in the management of long term conditions. 2. Skills : By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate competence in selecting, designing, implementing and evaluating a wide range of research techniques pertinent to research and research-based practice in health psychology; - Design adequate research-based health interventions; - Critically analyse and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data in health research; Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text: - Ayers, S. & de Visser, R. (2011). Psychology for Medicine. SAGE Publications Inc. (To read: all text) Supplementary Readings: - Falvo, D.R. (2013). Medical and Psychological Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability. Jones and Bartlett. USA. - Lopez, S., Pedrotti, J.T., & Snyder, C.R. (2014). Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths. SAGE Publications |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite qualifications: BPsy (Hons) | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Kezia Aquilina Liza Attard Pauline Baldacchino Pamela Portelli (Co-ord.) Ventura Stephanie Savona |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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