The course aims at increasing knowledge about the psychosocial aspects of cardiovascular disease. The course content will cover causes of mental illness in cardiovascular disease and psychological treatments in this setting. Risk factor management is a major challenge for both primary and secondary prevention and it is, to a large extent, behavioural.
Several models for how behaviour can be influenced will be discussed during the course. Some cardiac conditions have special behavioural challenges which will also be discussed in the course. Finally, inequalities when it comes to cardiac risk factors and cardiac rehabilitation, e.g. due to sex, socioeconomic status and mental health, will be covered in this course.
About the course
Content
The course increases your knowledge about the psychosocial aspects of cardiovascular disease. The course content will cover causes of mental illness in cardiovascular disease and psychological treatments in this setting. Risk factor management is a major challenge for both primary and secondary prevention and it is, to a large extent, behavioural. Several models for how behaviour can be influenced will be discussed during the course. Some cardiac conditions have special behavioural challenges which will also be discussed in the course. Finally, inequalities when it comes to cardiac risk factors and cardiac rehabilitation, e.g. due to sex, socioeconomic status and mental health, will be covered in this course.
This course is a free-standing course that serve as supplementary training for professionals in medicine, caring science, public health, physiotherapy and psychology.
Outline for distance course: The course is delivered online via Zoom, Studium and e-mail. Communication between students and teachers will be done via these platforms.
The course includes two to three hours of lectures at one to two times per week, with mandatory presence. There is also mandatory group work with two sessions with the assigned supervisor. The examination consists of a written assignment (online), participation in mandatory seminars and a group task.
In order to participate in this distance course you need access to a computer with an internet connection, as well as a web camera and a headset.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
After the course the students should be able to:
- explain the relationship between the autonomic nervous system, mental health and the cardiovascular system, and how this is reflected for example in heart rate variability,
- explain theories that describe the mutual relationship between cardiovascular disease and psychological factors,
- describe psychological theories and methods for behaviour change and to improve psychological wellbeing that can be used with people with cardiovascular disease.
- discuss behaviour change theories and behaviour change techniques of relevance to people with cardiovascular disease,
- perform a basic behavioural analysis and apply methods to influence motivation and behavioural change in people with cardiovascular disease
- discuss inequalities in health care that affect people with cardiovascular disease, and ways to reduce these inequalities.
- critically review scientific articles dealing with psychological interventions for people with cardiovascular disease,
- demonstrate an empathic and accepting conversational approach that can enhance motivation.
- Erik Olsson, Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor at Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University
- Fredrika Norlund, Affiliated Researcher at Department of Women's and Children's Health, Cardiovascular Psychology, Uppsala University
- Philip Leissner, PhD student at Department of Women's and Children's Health, Healthcare Sciences and e-Health, Uppsala University
- Els Clays, Associate professor, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University
- Molly Byrne, Professor of Health Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Galway
- Josefin Särnholm, Lecturer, Karolinska Institutet
Skills and abilities:
After the course the students should be able to:
Judgement and approach:
After the course the students should be able to:
Instruction
The teaching takes place online with lectures, seminars and group exercises via a video conference system. Students are expected to read literature and take part in other material, such as videos, assigned via Uppsala Universities' learning platform before each teaching session. All lectures, seminars and group exercises are mandatory.
Assessment
Grading system: Fail (U), Pass (G)
Students are assessed through a written exam and a group project work where they search material on the use of psychological interventions for people with cardiovascular disease and present their result orally and in writing.
If there are special reasons, the examiner may make exceptions to the specified examination method and allow a student to be examined in a different way. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.
Lecturers
How to apply?
Level: Undergraduate
Entry requirements: At least 120 credits in medicine, caring science, psychology or another health science.
This course is open for application for students from all 10 ENLIGHT universities.
Students should apply via their home institutions. For information on each university’s procedures, please see below.
- Students from Uppsala University: Students from Uppsala University have to apply by April 15 2023 using the national application service antagning.se.
- University of Bern: https://www.unibe.ch/studies/mobility/outgoing/enlight/index_eng.html
- Tartu University: https://ut.ee/en/content/enlight-blended-courses
- Ghent University: students should contact their faculty/programme, to include this as free elective course in their curriculum
- Students from the other ENLIGHT universities: Please contact your ENLIGHT coordinator to inquire whether and how you can apply.
During the programme, all students will be enrolled at Uppsala University as exchange students.
Contact
For info and application, please contact the general ENLIGHT email address of your home institutions.