HLTHPSYC 720 : Health Psychology Interventions

Medical and Health Sciences

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Reviews the underpinning theory base for approaches commonly used in health psychology interventions such as CBT, and applies these approaches to examples from the field of health psychology. Individual and group/community treatment targets will be considered, including common difficulties that impact on disease occurrence or management, and the psychological consequences of disease.

Course Overview

This course introduces the models of intervention most commonly used in health psychology at individual, group, and population
levels. It reviews the theories that underpin health psychology interventions and applies these approaches to examples from the eld.
Individual and group/community treatment targets are considered, including common diculties that impact on disease occurrence,
illness management, and the psychological consequences of disease.

Course Requirements

Restriction: PSYCH 701, 748

Course Contacts

Course coordinator: Dr Anna Serlachius 

a.serlachius@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Have a working knowledge of several approaches to health psychology interventions including the theoretical underpinning ofthe approaches, the practical application of the approaches, and how they have been applied to targets relevant to health psychology. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 3.1)
  2. Understand the primary approaches to health psychology interventions and the challenges of intervening at dierent levels – individual, group, population. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  3. Evaluate the research evidence around the eectiveness of health psychology interventions, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of various designs. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 5.1)
  4. Understand how to use evidence-based frameworks to develop, implement and evaluate interventions. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Essay
Presentation
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures (12 x 2-hour lectures), 24 hours of preparation for lectures (reading and thinking about the content), 60 hours of work on assignments (30 hours per assignment) and 42 hours of work for the nal exam (40 hours of exam preparation and 2 hours to sit the exam). The total student workload is 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including group work will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Feedback from students this year highlighted some overlap in content on self-management and self-care behaviours in 720 and 714 (taught in Semester 1). This content will be modified and replaced for next year.

Other Information

Classes will be taught in a combination of lecture and workshop formats together with facilitated discussions (depending on the
particular content).

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 04/07/2023 11:26 a.m.