Courses - Faculty of Medical And Health Sciences
Population Health Practice
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Adult Mental Health and CBT Skills for Primary Care
A clinically focused course providing an overview of the recognition and management of adult mental health in primary care and other healthcare settings. Topics and content will enable an examination of mental illness in New Zealand including cultural approaches and epidemiology, assessment, identification, treatment and management options. Content covers high prevalence conditions (depression, anxiety) and long term conditions (bipolar disorder and schizophrenia). Topics will include recovery, resilience, CBT techniques and the effect of alcohol and drugs.
Theory and Skills in Counselling Practice
The theory, research and practice regarding counselling and psycho-therapeutic approaches used in mental health and addiction service contexts. Approaches will be critically examined in terms of history, theory, social context and trends in research. Particular attention will focus on counselling methods currently in use within services.
Assessment and Intervention with Addiction
Develops understanding and competency in assessment and intervention work with clients having co-existing problems, specifically those most affected by alcohol and drug issues. It focuses on comprehensive assessment, effective clinical interventions, drug-specific interventions and culturally-specific approaches working with individuals, whānau, and communities. It will involve regular review of practice using case-based scenarios filmed with feedback from tutors, mentors and peers.
Corequisite: POPLHLTH 737, POPLPRAC 707
To complete this course students must enrol in POPLPRAC 708 A and B
Community Health Development Practicum
Theoretical and practical principles of health promotion processes, combined with practical experience, in the context of relevant organisations, community groups and research projects. Students are expected to find their own placement for the practicum.
Project Planning for Lifestyle Change
Focuses on the planning and development of interventions aimed at addressing lifestyle issues such as alcohol and other dangerous consumptions, obesity, lack of exercise and mental trauma. Students synthesise strategies from published literature and adapt them pragmatically for application in local contexts. Interventions will include those occurring in communities, primary and mental healthcare settings, hospitals, workplaces, and educational institutions.
Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care
The psychological and social study of patients with cancer or active, progressive disease, unresponsive to curative treatment. Existential philosophy and models of coping with suffering, communication in palliative care, psychiatric disorders in palliative care, and bereavement.
Symptom Management in Palliative Care
Assessment and management of pain, nausea and vomiting, respiratory symptoms, delirium, and other symptoms commonly encountered in palliative care and at the end of life, together with an overview of palliative care emergencies, the role of radiotherapy in symptom management, and issues around nutrition and hydration at the end of life.
Advanced Symptom Management in Palliative Care
Advanced concepts in the assessment and management of symptoms and situations, including the more challenging ones encountered within the palliative care approach to malignant and non-malignant advanced diseases.
Prerequisite: POPLPRAC 722
Child and Adolescent Palliative Care
An examination of specific palliative care issues related to the care of children, adolescents, and their families.
Urgent Primary Medical Care
Assessment and management of a broad range of acute conditions and related issues including: chest pain, dyspnoea, collapse, coma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, toxicology, psychiatry and environmental conditions.
Urgent Primary Surgical Care
Assessment and management of acute surgical and subspecialty conditions and related issues including: trauma, head injury, abdominal pain, ophthalmology, ENT, gynaecology, pregnancy, and genito-urinary conditions.
Infant, Child and Adolescent Primary Mental Health
Provides an overview of the recognition and primary care management of mental health in the under-eighteen age group. A clinically focused course for primary care practitioners. The content covers attachment, early intervention, development, risk assessment, resilience and families. Topics include depression, anxiety disorders, substance use, eating disorders, first episode psychosis, pain, somatic presentations, disruptive behaviour disorders and common behavioural problems.
Adult Rehabilitation Studies
Focuses on the rehabilitation of adults with an acquired or traumatic condition; including an in-depth exploration of the philosophy of rehabilitation interwoven with the development of clinical rehabilitation skills. The concepts addressed in rehabilitation reflect the eclectic nature of the discipline.
Restriction: POPLPRAC 728
Biology of Ageing
The systematic analysis of the physiological changes in ageing and the relationship of these changes to current beliefs and theories around the ageing process. Current issues around biogerontology are discussed.
Restriction: POPLHLTH 749
Engaging Pasifika Communities in Health
Examines the concepts and principles of Pasifika health engagement and applies them culturally and appropriately in a Pacific setting to improve Pasifika health outcomes.
Mental Health in Old Age
Explores mental health in old age, including positive mental health and the range of mental health challenges facing older adults. There will be a focus on mental health issues and care across the health continuum, including primary care, specialist mental health services, and aged care services.
Restriction: NURSING 747, POPLPRAC 727
Coexisting Problems: Theory and Principles - Level 9
Develops further knowledge and skills in working effectively with clients who suffer from coexisting mental health and addiction problems. Students will be presented with research and theory on existent problems and will examine recent developments in intervention strategies.
Prerequisite: POPLPRAC 708 or equivalent experience
Dementia Care
A clinically focused course that explores dementia within three specific areas; the brain, the diseases, and the person. It explores theoretical concepts and models of dementia care, and focuses on the partnership of individuals, carers and health professionals in the delivery of dementia care.
Special Topic: Aged Care Practice - Level 9
Provides an in-depth understanding of the unique clinical and contextual complexities of providing health care in the aged residential care sector. Using rich data sources and standardised assessment tools it focuses on the quality of clinical care. Health professionals will explore the use of gerontological assessment to respond to identified need, inform care planning and care delivery at an individual and systems level.
Special Topic: Multimorbidity and Complexity of Medicines Use in Older People
Explores multimorbidity and complexity of medicines use in older people including guidance for safe medicines use, common medications for multiple conditions balancing the risks and benefits of medicines use for robust and frail older people.
Symptom Management in Palliative Care
An overview of key symptoms commonly encountered in patients with progressive diseases in palliative care and end of life. Addresses assessment and management of these common symptoms using evidenced-based learning.
Restriction: POPLPRAC 722
Challenges in Symptom Management in Palliative Care
An overview of key symptoms commonly encountered in malignant and non-malignant patients in palliative care and at end of life. Addresses assessment and management of these common symptoms using evidenced-based learning.
Prerequisite: POPLPRAC 772
Restriction: POPLPRAC 723
Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care
An overview of the psychological and social study of patients with cancer or active, progressive disease, unresponsive to curative treatment. Covers existential philosophy and models of coping with suffering, spirituality, communication in palliative care, family systems, psychosocial assessments, psychiatric disorders in palliative care and bereavement.
Restriction: POPLPRAC 720