Curricular Unit:			Code:
Health Literacy, Community Assessment and Intervention			1108LSAU
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
1	Master	Clinical and Health Psychology	6 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
Winter Semester		Portuguese/English	78
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
Students are expected: - To acquire and deepen knowledge about health literacy and its importance for health promotion, diseases prevention/treatment. methods, strategies, priority areas in promoting health literacy, and on the role of psychologists in their implementation. - To deepen knowledge about Community Psychology, its origins, principles and values, main theoretical frameworks and current trends in the field of health promotion, and of disease prevention and treatment; the different roles that psychologists can assume in these contexts, as well as opportunities for reflection on ethical issues in the execution of their work. - To acquire knowledge about methods, techniques and strategies for community health assessment and intervention design, as well as to develop practical skills to implement them. - To develop a critical perspective on community programs for health promotion, diseases prevention and treatment.
Syllabus:
1. Health Literacy: Historical contextualization; Health “literacies”; Models of health literacy; Health literacy in health and well-being promotion, and in diseases prevention/treatment; Strategies and priority domains in the promotion of health literacy; The role of the psychologist in the promotion of health literacy. 2. Community Health Psychology: Framework; Principles and values; Insufficiency of the traditional clinical model and current tendencies in health community intervention. 3. Community health assessment and intervention: Participatory diagnosis in different health contexts; Ethics of participation, confidentiality and consent; Steps and tools for intervention planning - Mobilization; Initial evaluation; Planning; Implementation, and Process and results evaluation.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
- To acquire and deepen knowledge about health literacy and its importance for health promotion, diseases prevention/treatment. methods, strategies, priority areas in promoting health literacy, and on the role of psychologists in their implementation: Point 1 - To deepen knowledge about Community Psychology, its origins, principles and values, main theoretical frameworks and current trends in the field of health promotion, and of disease prevention and treatment; the different roles that psychologists can assume in these contexts, as well as opportunities for reflection on ethical issues in the execution of their work: Point 2 - To acquire knowledge about methods, techniques and strategies for community health assessment and intervention design, as well as to develop practical skills to implement them: Point 3 - To develop a critical perspective on community programs for health promotion, diseases prevention and treatment: Point 3
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
Explanatory and active/participatory methodologies are adopted, with exploration through practical exercises and promotion of critical debates in the classroom, as well as the active participation in community extension programs. The assessment adopted is continuous, consisting of specific practices (worth 50% of final grade) - work that is systematized into a final report -, and an oral exam for (worth 50% of final grade).
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
- To acquire and deepen knowledge about health literacy and its importance for health promotion, diseases prevention/treatment. methods, strategies, priority areas in promoting health literacy, and on the role of psychologists in their implementation: Explanatory and active/participative methodologies (with exploration of methods and means of communication and activation provided by the Portuguese National Health Service) - To deepen knowledge about Community Psychology, its origins, principles and values, main theoretical frameworks and current trends in the field of health promotion, and of disease prevention and treatment; the different roles that psychologists can assume in these contexts, as well as opportunities for reflection on ethical issues in the execution of their work: Expositive and active/participative methodologies (promotion of critical case analysis and debate among students) - To acquire knowledge about methods, techniques and strategies for community health assessment and intervention design, as well as to develop practical skills to implement them: Active/participatory methodologies (analysis of community health intervention programs previously implemented, role-play and active participation in community outreach programs) - To develop a critical perspective on community programs for health promotion, diseases prevention and treatment: Active/participatory methodologies (analysis of community health intervention programs previously implemented, role-play and active participation in community outreach programs)
Reading:
- Espanha, R. Ávila, P., Mendes, R.V. (2016). Literacia em Portugal. Relatório Síntese. Lisboa: FCG. Disponível em: https://content.gulbenkian.pt/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/29203225/PGISVersCurtaFCB_FINAL2016.pdf - Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (2015). Literacia em saúde. Lisboa. Disponível em http://recursos.ordemdospsicologos.pt/files/artigos/literacia_em_sa__de.pdf - Thomas, L. (2013). The role of health psychologists in improving health literacy and behaviours in health promoting schools. Disponível em: https://www.healthliteracyeurope.net/history - Center for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas. Community Tool Box. Disponível em: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/best-change-processes/implementing-effective-interventions/overview Kloos, B. et al. (2021). Chapter 1. In Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities, Fourth Edition.https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/community-psychology-fourth-edition-sample-chapter.pdf
Lecturer (* Responsible):
Isabel Silva (isabels@ufp.edu.pt)