Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Intervention in Palliative Care
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Introduction
In recent years and in response to the evolution of palliative care, there is a clear need to provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary care to people with advanced disease, and to their families.
The role of the psychologist, becomes fundamental to alleviate the psychological and existential suffering derived from the process of illness and end of life.
This subject aims to introduce future professionals in psychology,to the basic ideas and skills needed to ensure a quality approach. In the same way, it seeks to facilitate the development of personal tools of emotional self-regulation that become indispensable for professionals who have direct contact with other people's suffering.
Pre-course requirements
Willingness to develop one’s own skills in this area.
Objectives
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To understand the current situation on palliative care from an interdisciplinary point of view.
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To explain the specific role of the psychologist in this field
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To promote communication skills and support in situations of high emotional impact.
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To offer resources for assessment and psychological and spiritual intervention for the treatment of people in a situation of advanced illness and / or end of life
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To provide self-care tools to professionals. Prevention of compassion fatigue.
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To identify the processes of normal grief and pathological grief as well as acquire the necessary knowledge to accompany people who are suffering a loss.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CE01 - The ability to carry out appropriate Psychology-specific actions to achieve set targets in a specific work environment.
- CE03 - The ability to make adequate decisions about what Psychology-specific methods and measuring instruments to use in each situation or evaluation context.
- CE05 - Design and apply a psychological intervention strategy depending on the context or service requested.
- CE06 - Plan the evaluation of psychological programs and / or interventions, selecting the appropriate indicators and techniques.
- CE08 - Awareness of the professional reality of psychologists in a specific field of application.
- CE12 - The ability to explain and identify the main stages of human development, recognise their progression and identify the characteristic signs and symptoms of the most frequent psychological conditions in each stage of development.
- CE15 - The ability to assess the social and anthropological aspects of human beings, taking into account the historical and sociocultural variables that exist in the configuration of the human psyche and interpersonal relations.
- CE18 - The ability to identify the structures and processes involved in basic psychological functions and recognise the nature of individual differences.
- CG01 - Capacity for critical and creative thinking, and capacity to investigate and adopt a scientific and ethical approach in distinct professional settings.
- CG07 - The ability to adapt to the setting, task or context, handle new tasks and responsibilities and generate processes of change.
- CG09 - The ability to integrate psychological knowledge and developments into professional practice.
- CG10 - Sensitivity to the needs and expectations of others.
Learning outcomes of the subject
To have a comprehensive understanding of the current situation of palliative care and the specific role of the psychologist.
To acquire basic ideas in bioethics which are necessary for decision making.
To learn about the different types of disease that affect patients under treatment, as well as their different phases.
To develop competencies, skills and knowledge about psychological and spiritual evaluation and intervention in this field.
To gain a basic insight into the grieving process and associated factors.
To learn about communication and counselling tools as well as resources for emotional self-regulation.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to Palliative Care and the psychologist's role
2. Bioethics and decision making process
3. Communication and counselling
4. Evaluation and emotional intervention
5. Evaluation and spiritual intervention
6. The end-of-life process
7. Specific intervention in people with advanced cognitive impairment
8. Grief process
9 Emotional self-regulation in professionals
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The method will be mixed. The subject will be worked on the basis of clinical cases, role plays, dynamics and audiovisual media. The studentwill also carry out independent work.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Final mark: 20% for attendance and Class participation and 80% for the final exam.
Attendance: Up to two classes may be missed. From the third absence, 0.5 points will be taken off the final mark.
Evaluation period
- E1 04/04/2022 A12 12:00h
- E2 27/06/2022 A04 12:00h