Entry requirements
The course Evaluating Interventions in Patients with Chronic Diseases is open to MSc Psychology (research) students, Clinical and Health Psychology track.
Description
The course consists of both lectures and interactive seminars, which will all be provided in the English language.
In the lectures, the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of a variety of chronic somatic diseases (including but not limited to coronary heart disease, pain conditions, cancer and diabetes) are addressed. Also, psychosocial problems (e.g. depression, anxiety) associated with these chronic somatic diseases as well as frequently used psychological assessment instruments measuring these psychosocial problems are discussed, both from a conceptual and methodological perspective. In addition, the theoretical concepts related to determinants/predictors of these psychosocial problems (e.g. illness perceptions, stress, coping) are addressed. Finally, the evaluation of generic as well as disease-specific psychosocial interventions that focus on improving quality of life and/or self-management in patients with chronic diseases are discussed.
The interactive seminars will focus on different methodological and disease-specific topics such as how to conduct and evaluate a systematic review and meta-analysis and qualitative research, the psychometric aspects of different screening and assessment instruments, and the effectiveness of specific intervention techniques and strategies in patients with chronic somatic diseases.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, the student can:
- describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics , psychosocial consequences and interventions regarding various chronic somatic diseases;
- indicate and discuss the assessment of the psychosocial consequences of chronic somatic diseases, including psychometric issues of the psychological assessment instruments;
- critically evaluate and reflect upon the relevance and effectiveness of psychological interventions in patients with chronic somatic diseases;
- critically reflect on an existing meta-analysis on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in chronic diseases and convincingly present about this reflection;
- select and evaluate psychosocial measurements and interventions for patients with chronic somatic conditions, as a preparation to the professional and/or research setting.
The course objectives will be pursued through the use of different working methods: lectures, interactive seminars, reading assignments and preparatory homework assignments. The course objectives will be assessed by a written exam (course objectives 1, 2 and 3) and a presentation focusing on a critical evaluation of a meta-analysis concerning the effectiveness of psychological interventions for a specific chronic somatic disease or condition (objectives 3, 4 and 5).
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
Registration
Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
You must register for each exam in My Studymap at least 10 days before the exam date. You cannot take an exam without a valid registration in My Studymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure
Mode of instruction
7 2-hour lectures
7 2-hour workgroups.
Attendance at the workgroup sessions is mandatory. See Brightspace for more information.
Assessment method
The final grade is based on a grade for the written exam (60%) and a grade for the seminars (40%).
The exam will be in English and the exam questions have to be answered in English.
The presentation needs to be given in English.
Students need to have a sufficient exam grade and a sufficient grade for the seminars to pass the course.
You will be informed about the method of inspection and feedback of the examination via Brightspace in due course.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. All students are required to take and pass the Scientific Integrity Test with a score of 100% in order to learn about the practice of integrity in scientific writing. Students are given access to the quiz via a module on Brightspace. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken.
Literature
Compulsory:
Boyer, B.A. & Paharia, M.I. (Eds.) (2008). Comprehensive Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology. Hoboken, J. Wiley & Sons.
Articles provided on Brightspace as additions to the book (exam material) and as preparatory literature for the seminars.
The lecture slides posted on Brightspace (exam material).
Contact information
Dr. Judy Veldhuijzen and Dr. Henriët van Middendorp (coordinators of the course) d.s.veldhuijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl and h.vanmiddendorp@fsw.leidenuniv.nl