Health psychologist

 Health psychologist

 health psychology is a fresh and rapidly evolving space, and might be defined like the apply and application of psychological ways in the study of behaviour relevant to health, illness and healthcare.

as an example , health psychologists might study :

when and why individuals seek professional recommendation concerning their health
why healthcare professionals do or maybe not recommend preventative measures
how patients and healthcare professionals interact
how patients adapt to illness
the links between perception, health behaviour and physical functioning.

operating being a health psychologist

health psychologists specialise in public health issues, healthcare provisions and responses to illness. these problems could be identified by healthcare agencies ( together with nhs trusts and health authorities ), health professionals ( inclusive of gps, nurses and rehabilitation therapists ) and organisations and employers outside the nhs.

the breadth as out to the discipline is so much reaching and might involve :

health risk behaviours - identifying behaviours that could be damaging to the persons health ( as an example, smoking, drug abuse, poor diet ) and therefore the use of psychological theories and interventions for primary prevention and health connected behaviour modification.
health protective enhancing behaviours - encouraging adoption of behaviours inclusive of exercise, the most appropriate diet, oral hygiene, health checks/self examination and attending preventative medical screenings, by utilizing psychological approaches to health issues.
health connected cognitions - investigating cognitive processes that mediate and distinguish health and illness behaviours. a choice of theoretical models and frameworks are used, not no more than for explanation and prediction, but in addition for developing interventions ( as an example, modifying health beliefs, increasing internal management 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 enhance communication, facilitating adherence, preparing for stressful medical procedures among others.
psychological aspects of illness - watching the psychological impact of acute and chronic illness on people, families and carers. psychological interventions could be designed to facilitate promote self-management, handle pain or illness, improve quality of life and cut back disability and handicap.

health psychologists work within the range of settings, together with hospitals, tutorial health research units, health authorities and university departments.