Introductory description

This module is the first stage in the development of a newly accredited healthcare professional - A Digital Healthcare Scientist. This role fulfils the need for a patient-facing science practitioner whose training spans behavioural science; digital science; physiological science; and the science of clinical decision-making. With the burgeoning recognition of the importance of supporting patients to help themselves to mitigate and overcome the multiple, often complex, health and wellbeing challenges which they face, comes the realisation that a more highly trained workforce is needed in Digital Healthcare and Wellbeing. High-level consultation skills, incorporating a holistic, evidence-based and values-based approach to shared decision-making are a vital component of the training needed to support Digital Healthcare and Wellbeing more comprehensively. The module utilises a Fusion Science approach. A broad scientific training in physiology is needed to enable practitioners to address issues of co-morbidity and mental health and wellbeing in the context of adverse social and personal circumstances. To be able to undertake this role it is essential that practitioners are also well-versed in the behavioural sciences. Furthermore, they need to be able to work, and promote engagement, with the digital technologies which underpin the support of health and wellbeing.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

What is wellbeing and why does it matter

Happiness and social policy

Multidimensionality of wellbeing

Physical health and wellbeing and mental health and wellbeing and their inter-relations

Community wellbeing interventions including schools and universities

Wellbeing of employees in organizational settings and the inter-relations with productivity and job satisfaction

The relationship between stress, burnout, presenteeism and wellbeing

The role of leaders in setting wellbeing strategy in organizations

Evaluation of wellbeing interventions in organizational setting.

How do we define health and illness behaviours

What are the methods of measuring health and illness behaviours

What individual differences are associated with the experiences of illnesses

How do we cope with illness and what coping mechanisms are the most effective

What are the challenges in communicating good health behaviours

What behavioural change methods are successful in promoting health behaviours

How are eating behaviours learned over one’s lifespan, how can eating be determined by our social life and what role do social norms play?

How does memory, attention and emotion influence health behaviours

Eating and socio-economic circumstances

Communication: types, styles, theoretical models, factors that inform communication with others, barriers to effective communication, strategies to overcome barriers to effective communication, active listening, empathy

Coaching: definition, models, how to use it as a tool to support making positive changes in an individual’s health and wellbeing

Professionalism: definition, key dimensions and characteristics of a healthcare professional, key influences on the development of professional behaviours, regulatory requirements, professional standards, and taking responsibility for one’s own health and wellbeing (HCPC Standards, Good Scientific Practice

Reflection: definition, models, application in the context of being a digital healthcare science professional and the role of a portfolio

Team working: definition, approaches, theoretical models in relation to digital healthcare science delivery

Clinical governance: an introduction to what it is, why and how we do it and its relevance to digital healthcare science

Measurement: an introduction to the concept, types of data, levels of measurement, and issues of reliability and accuracy

Research methods: an introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods, issues of validity and reliability and the psychometric properties of outcome measures commonly used in healthcare

Types of research evidence: characteristics of qualitative and quantitative evidence

Hierarchies (levels) of evidence: How to determine the methodological quality of the design, validity and applicability of research evidence.

Referencing techniques: an introduction to referencing, styles of referencing, why it is important in academic writing, how to reference work correctly, definitions of plagiarism and collusion and how to avoid them

Physiological processes for digesting and metabolising nutrients.
Related to a psychosocial context
Response to exercise from a physiological and psychosocial perspective
Anatomy and physiology of the gastro-intestinal tract

Human physiological concepts.

Consider different perspectives in a clinical Multidisciplinary Team (eg nurse, physician, podiatrist, dietitian, and optician)

Examine the Importance and interaction of diet, exercise, and wellbeing

Explore the basics of metabolism in pregnancy

Examine the effect of eating patterns on energy storage in the body
Energy utilisation in exercise

Analyse the physiology of the stress response

Consider modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for stroke and coronary events
Review efficacious communication of chance and risk

Discuss the ramifications of panvascular disease

Relate exercise and nutrition to oxygen delivery, vascular occlusion and infarction
Investigate vascular occlusion and infarction

Inspect the biochemistry underpinning plaque formation

Consider practical implementation of nutritional steps to improve vascular health

Connecting the learning around diabetes, pregnancy and vascular disease

Consider integration of concepts within human energy and oxygen delivery

Exploring the decisions which patients and clinicians need to make together.
Where do decisions start?
Who gets consulted about dilemmas before any healthcare worker is involved?
What are the conscious and unconscious decisions that affect health and wellbeing?
How have health workers been involved in the decisions made by and for patients?

What determines whether people with long term conditions will maintain their wellbeing or develop depression as co-morbidity?

How do patient and health-workers interact with each other in discussions around weight and smoking?

Working with models of partnership and learning how ‘co-production can be achieved by patients and clinicians working together

Developing communication skills to support collaborative working around sensitive subjects.

Addiction: cause or consequence?

Stress, and overwork affecting clinical decision-making

Communicating about chance and risk

How do affluence and deprivation affect the decisions that individuals and societies make?

Supporting hard-to-reach people

Personal values and values-based practice values awareness (in self and others).

Communicating around values and reasoning around values

Multidisciplinary team-working postings on ‘values exchange’

Situated judgement –learning from cases health inequalities homelessness and sleeping rough

Balanced decision-making on a shared framework of Evidence and Values

Holistic approaches to health and social care

The role of healthcare technology in day-to-day to improve healthcare and wellbeing

Introduction to big data, data analysis and probability.

Applications of digital healthcare in different settings.

Personalised health and wellbeing stratification and population sampling for research.

The integration of IT into healthcare operations. Bringing Interoperability in healthcare to facilitate sharing data between professionals/systems.

Health and wellbeing data that characterises individuals.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Explain how to fully engage with literature to support evidence informed practice
• Compare and contrast the ways in which people experience and cope with illness
• Demonstrate the principles and processes of evidence-basing and values-basing that underpin sound clinical decision-making
• Identify and define factors that affect compliance and adherence to advice
• Compare approaches used to define, measure, improve and evaluate wellbeing in individuals and within organisations
• Describe appropriate communication and professional behaviours, contextualising them in relation to relevant regulatory and governance requirements
• With regard to shared decision making around healthcare and policy, explore how healthcare professionals can best engage with each other and with patient/client, organisations and communities.
• Describe the social, environmental and cognitive determinants of health and illness behaviours and their underpinning theoretical models.
• Discuss the importance of data in decision-making and personalised care
• Describe the role of digital technologies in day-to-day healthcare and wellbeing support
• Explain how to integrate digital healthcare in the design of healthcare systems
• Identify the physiological processes for digesting and metabolising nutrients. Relate this to a psychosocial context
• Trace the body’s response to exercise from a physiological and psychosocial perspective.

Subject specific skills

Application of physiological and psychological measurements
Data analysis, data collection and presentation

Transferable skills

1. Critical thinking. Recognise patterns, themes and key messages from sometimes confused and incomplete data.
   Make informed decisions on the value of a range of sources allowing an evidence based conclusion based on this analysis.
2. Problem solving. Use rational and logical reasoning to deduce appropriate and well-reasoned conclusions.
   Retain an open mind, optimistic of finding solutions, thinking laterally and creatively to look beyond the obvious.
   Knows how to learn from failure.
3. Self-awareness. Actively seek opportunities for personal development in the context of employment and life.
   Aware of personal strengths and emotional intelligence.
   Reflect on learning, seeking feedback on and evaluating personal practices, strengths and opportunities for personal growth.
4. Communication Verbal: Communicate orally in a clear and sensitive manner which is appropriately varied according to different audiences.
   Written: Present arguments, knowledge and ideas, in a range of formats.
   Active listening: questioning, reflecting, summarising.
5. Teamwork and working effectively with others.
   Operate within, and contribute to, a respectful, supportive and cooperative group climate.
   Sensitive to the impact of actions on others.
6. Information literacy (research skills). Critical awareness of how information is gathered, used, managed and synthesised.
   Understanding of the relative value of different sources and the importance of provenance.
   The systematic collection, analysis and evaluation of information in the investigation of a topic.
7. Digital literacy. Has the capabilities that enable living, learning and working in a digital society. Comfortable with using digital media to communicate, solve problems, manage information, collaborate, create and share content.
8. Sustainability. Understands the climate emergency and committed to an active contribution to a sustainable world.
9. Ethical values. Committed to living ethically and behaving in a way that is consistent with the Warwick Guiding Principles.
10. Intercultural awareness. Develop required observational, analytical and reflection skills to understand impact of culture on self and on interactions with culturally different others.
    Demonstrating a curiosity, spirit of adventure and willingness to take risks in the pursuit of increasing intercultural knowledge and sensitivity.
11. Professionalism. Prepared to operate autonomously.
    Aware of how to be efficient and resilient.
    Manages priorities and time.
    Self-motivated, setting and achieving goals, prioritising tasks.
12. Organisational awareness. Understanding of business, government and third sector issues and priorities.
    Awareness of the responsibilities of organisations in society.
    Understanding organisational norms of behaviour.