Health psychologist
Health psychology is a new and rapidly evolving area, and can be defined as the practice and application of psychological methods to the study of behaviour relevant to health, illness and healthcare.
For example, health psychologists may study:
when and why people seek professional advice about their health
why healthcare professionals do or do not recommend preventative measures
how patients and healthcare professionals interact
how patients adapt to illness
the links between perception, health behaviour and physical functioning.
Working as a health psychologist
Health psychologists focus on public health problems, healthcare provisions and responses to illness. These issues may be identified by healthcare agencies (including NHS trusts and health authorities), health professionals (such as GPs, nurses and rehabilitation therapists) and organisations and employers outside the NHS.
The breadth of the discipline is far reaching and can involve:
Health risk behaviours - identifying behaviours that may be damaging to a person's health (for example, smoking, drug abuse, poor diet) and the use of psychological theories and interventions for primary prevention and health related behaviour change.
Health protective enhancing behaviours - encouraging adoption of behaviours such as exercise, a healthy diet, oral hygiene, health checks/self examination and attending preventative medical screenings, by using psychological approaches to health problems.
Health related cognitions - investigating cognitive processes which mediate and determine health and illness behaviours. A range of theoretical models and frameworks are used, not only for explanation and prediction, but also for developing interventions (for example, modifying health beliefs, increasing internal control or self efficacy beliefs).
Processes influencing health care delivery - investigating the nature and effects of communication between healthcare practitioners and patients. This includes psychological interventions to improve communication, facilitating adherence, preparing for stressful medical procedures and others.
Psychological aspects of illness - looking at the psychological impact of acute and chronic illness on individuals, families and carers. Psychological interventions may be used to help promote self-management, cope with pain or illness, improve quality of life and reduce disability and handicap.
Health psychologists work in a number of settings, including hospitals, academic health research units, health authorities and university departments
Health psychology is a new and rapidly evolving area, and can be defined as the practice and application of psychological methods to the study of behaviour relevant to health, illness and healthcare.
For example, health psychologists may study:
when and why people seek professional advice about their health
why healthcare professionals do or do not recommend preventative measures
how patients and healthcare professionals interact
how patients adapt to illness
the links between perception, health behaviour and physical functioning.
Working as a health psychologist
Health psychologists focus on public health problems, healthcare provisions and responses to illness. These issues may be identified by healthcare agencies (including NHS trusts and health authorities), health professionals (such as GPs, nurses and rehabilitation therapists) and organisations and employers outside the NHS.
The breadth of the discipline is far reaching and can involve:
Health risk behaviours - identifying behaviours that may be damaging to a person's health (for example, smoking, drug abuse, poor diet) and the use of psychological theories and interventions for primary prevention and health related behaviour change.
Health protective enhancing behaviours - encouraging adoption of behaviours such as exercise, a healthy diet, oral hygiene, health checks/self examination and attending preventative medical screenings, by using psychological approaches to health problems.
Health related cognitions - investigating cognitive processes which mediate and determine health and illness behaviours. A range of theoretical models and frameworks are used, not only for explanation and prediction, but also for developing interventions (for example, modifying health beliefs, increasing internal control or self efficacy beliefs).
Processes influencing health care delivery - investigating the nature and effects of communication between healthcare practitioners and patients. This includes psychological interventions to improve communication, facilitating adherence, preparing for stressful medical procedures and others.
Psychological aspects of illness - looking at the psychological impact of acute and chronic illness on individuals, families and carers. Psychological interventions may be used to help promote self-management, cope with pain or illness, improve quality of life and reduce disability and handicap.
Health psychologists work in a number of settings, including hospitals, academic health research units, health authorities and university departments