HPS226 - Health Psychology (Chronic Illness)
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Stephanie Merkouris |
| Previously: | Applied Health Psychology |
| Prerequisite: | HBS110 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | HPS326 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour (campus) seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour (online) seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:Drop-in Q&A online sessions will be scheduled throughout the trimester; see the unit cloud site for more details. | |
Content
This unit provides an introduction to the theory and practice of health psychology. Building on the foundation of the influential behaviour change theories, the unit offers a biopsychosocial perspective on chronic illness conceptualisation and treatment. Students will get acquainted with the concepts relevant to health and illness from the biopsychosocial perspective. You will be asked to consider the application of these concepts to a range of clinical contexts to develop an understanding of how concepts from within health psychology can be applied to both the individual and to specific disease populations. The unit will consider the theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of health and illness using applied examples from such fields as psycho-cardiology, psycho-oncology and psycho-gastroenterology, among others.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain and evaluate how psychological and behavioural factors interact with the physical systems of the body and social factors to influence health and illness. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Understand and evidence how psychological constructs can be applied to both the individual and specific disease populations. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Demonstrate the capacity to communicate health information and research to a range of audiences, including lay people, professional peers, and members of multidisciplinary teams. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO4 | Evaluate and apply concepts from health psychology to a range of clinical contexts. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Demonstrate the ability to translate research questions and outcomes into a multidisciplinary clinical context. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Shared Decision-Making Tool | 1200 words | 40% |
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| Assessment 2: Literature Review | 1400 words | 40% |
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| Assessment 3: End-of-Unit Assessment | 90 minutes | 20% |
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The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HPS226 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.