Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Palliative Care Psychology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
iramo@uic.es
Introduction
In recent years and in the face of the evolution of palliative care, the need to offer comprehensive and interdisciplinary care to people with advanced disease, as well as to their families.
The figure of the psychologist, becomes fundamental in order to be able 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, the basic notions and skills needed to ensure a quality approach. In the same way, it wants to facilitate the development of its own 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
1- To know the current situation of palliative care from an interdisciplinary point of view.
2- To explain the specific role of the psychologist in this field
3- To promote communication skills and support in situations of high emotional impact.
4- To offer resources for evaluation and psychological and spiritual intervention for the treatment of people in a situation of advanced illness and / or end of life
5- To provide self-care tools to professionals. Prevention of compassion fatigue.
6- 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
- CB01 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education and that usually includes, through support from advanced textbooks, certain aspects of knowledge from the cutting-edge of their field of study.
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) in order to issue judgements that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- 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. Communication and counselling
3. Bioethics and decision making process
4. Evaluation and emotional intervention
5. Forgiveness at the end of life
6. Evaluation and spiritual intervention
7. Specific intervention in people with advanced cognitive impairment
8. The end-of-life process
9. Specific intervention in people with advanced cognitive impairment
8. Grief process
10. 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 playings, dynamics and audiovisual media. Sometimes, autonomous work will be required by the student.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The final mark will be that of the exam.
Bibliography and resources
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Bayés R. (2001). Psicología del sufrimiento y de la muerte. Barcelona : Martínez Roca.
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Bayés R, Limonero J.T. (2005). Influencia de la proximidad de la muerte en los factores que pueden ayudar a morir en paz. Med Clín; 124: 556.
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Ética y sedación al final de la vida. (2003) Fundació Víctor Grífols i Lucas. Quadern nº 9. Barcelona.
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Gomis C, Barbero J, Giró (2008): en Benito E.; Barbero, J.; Payás, A. (comp.) El
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Acompañamiento espiritual en Cuidados Paliativos. Una introducción y una propuesta.SECPAL-Arán, Madrid. Cap 4.
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Manual para la atención psicosocial y espiritual a personas con enfermedades avanzadas. Intervención psicológica y espiritual. Obra Social “La Caixa”.
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Intervención emocional en cuidados paliativos. Modelos y protocolos. P.Arranz, J.Barbero, P.Barreto, R. Bayés. Ariel
Evaluation period
- E1 12/01/2023 A16 12:00h