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Psychology of Health and Chronic Illness
Postgraduate | CUR-PSB600C | 2020
Course information for 2020 intake
Study the impact of acute and chronic illnesses across both physical and mental conditions. Consider how they impact the patient and their family. Cover quality of life - including sexuality, body image, fatigue, spirituality and more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Psychology of Health and Chronic Illness
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- identify factors that can combine to make illness particularly challenging
- compare and contrast quality and quantity of life and their differing importance at different life stages
- critique different quality of life measurement tools and their application to different populations
- examine end of life issues including accepting a poor prognosis, challenges of dying and models of bereavement
- apply evidence-based strategies to disease management.
- Critical time points within illness
- Chronic diseases 1
- Chronic diseases 2
- Patient needs & psychosocial adjustment to illness
- Quality of Life: Conceptual & Measurement Issues
- Communication with children whose parent has a chronic illness
- Coping with Illness: couples adjustment and interventions
- Patients with culturally/linguistically diverse (CALD) Background
- Chronic illness & the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Psycho‐sexual adjustment & Interventions
- Coping with dying, death and bereavement
- Survivorship
In this subject, students will consider the impact of acute and chronic illness states (including physical and mental illness) on the patient and their family. Aspects of quality of life affected will be considered, including sexuality, body image, fatigue, existential crisis, social and intimate relationships, physical reactions and spirituality. The impact of formal and informal systems of social support on illness and outcomes will be explored. The subject will incorporate evaluation of research methods used in such studies together with the application of health psychology theory and a critical examination of research findings. Relationships between health cognition, health behaviour and psychological adjustment will be an important theme, as will be a consideration of interventions to improve patient well being. Broad social, cultural, and political aspects of disability and acute and chronic disease will also be examined. The impact on and needs of carers and family members will also be considered in this subject of study.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Case Study (50%)
- Invigilated Examination (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or enrol in the following subject(s) to study at the same time or prior to this subject:
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.