Entry requirements

For admission to the course, at least 13.5 passed credits are required of which at least 1 passed course in physiotherapy during the first semester.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: On completion of the course, the student should: · be able to account for thought and behavioural learning processes during sickness and in health and be able to account for how behaviours are developed and used in the interaction between individuals and the environment · be familiar with strategies for behaviour modification and the reinforcement of healthy behaviours · be able to describe factors that influence patient compliance · be able to account for the characteristics of a traumatic crisis and stressful living environments and how people cope with them

Judgement and approach: On completion of the course, the student should: · reflect over his/her own ability to analyse learnt behaviour within the physiotherapy domain.

Content

To give basic knowledge about central theories, methods and research results with regards to cognition - and learning psychology, more specifically thought processes and behaviours in relation to sickness and health. During the course, the behavioural medicine perspective and its applications within health promotion, secondary prevention, adaptation and acceptance are introduced, in situations of chronic disease.

· Central theories and concepts within health psychology, especially cognition - and the psychology of learning based theories. Strategies and technologies to initiate, carry out and maintain health promoting behaviours e g technologies used within cognitive behavioural therapeutic treament· Factors that influence patient compliance and coping· Traumatic crisis reactions and stress and burn-out

Instruction

Teaching is given as lectures, seminars, group work and practical elements. Consistently, the teaching is based on a study group working method.

Assessment

For passed course the requirements are: Active participation in group work and seminars. Individual written examination. The contents of lectures can constitute a basis for examination even when the lectures are not compulsory.