Psychological and Psycho-social Aspects of Diabetes - 10 credits - Module

People with diabetes can experience disproportionately high rates of mental ill health including increased incidences of depression, anxiety, distress and eating disorders. Effective management of diabetes requires constant effort from the person living with diabetes. This can be compounded by social exclusion from health services.

What's covered in the course?

Emotional health is necessary to manage diabetes effectively so practitioner awareness of caring for emotions is paramount to promote self-management and knowledge gain in people with diabetes. Also educational and support resources, aimed to enable people to engage in effective self-management and enablement to learn how to live with their diabetes can help reduce psychological distress. Psychological care should be integrated with diabetes care in order to optimise health outcomes and improve the experience and quality of life of people living with diabetes.

Why Choose Us?

• This module is delivered as a standalone, or as part of the MSc in Advancing Diabetes Care pathway
• This module aligns with the post-graduate philosophy and is designed to be flexible and practice-led
• You will have the opportunity to develop skills of enquiry, reflection and problem solving
• You can study this module completely online
• You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences within an online discussion forum with your fellow students, as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities
• You will be an active partner in your own learning and development and in return you will receive regular feedback and feed forward aimed at developing your academic skills, and have the opportunity to discuss your progress with the module team

How to apply

Complete the online application form via the link above, including the name of the module you are enrolling onto. 

Entry requirements

This course is suitable for anyone who has a current professional registration from the country of your practice.

If you are an international student then you must obtain an IETS Score of 6.0 in all fields.

Course structure

This module is delivered online and contains filmed video vignettes, cast studies, student lead work areas, evidence resources, webinars and guided study approaches with regular access through the learning to your module leader and teaching team.

Indicative content

• The relationship between psychological and psychosocial influence of living with diabetes
• An individualised approach to recognising each person’s understanding, decision making processes and care strategies
• Quality of life and adjustment to living with diabetes
• Language matters and communications skills
• Solution focused approaches
• Motivational interviewing
• Emotional health promotion
• Health narrative and individual health appraisal
• Screening
• Lived experience of diabetes
• Cultural competence

This course is delivered through the an online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.

Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. We also offer optional periodic seminar talks where you can meet the course team, along with your fellow students.

Module Leader

If you have any queries about this course please contact the Module Leader, Anne Phillips on:

• Email: Anne.Phillips@bcu.ac.uk
• Tel: 0121 331 4259