This flexible micro-credential is designed for all allied health professionals, including but not limited to Dieticians, Physiotherapists, Occupations Therapists, Doctors, Nurses, etc. who want to provide excellence in continuity of care to their patients.
Advancing Healthcare: Behaviour Change Principles for Healthy Living
Overview
| Subject Area | Public Health |
| Credits | 2.5 |
| NFQ | 9 |
| EFQ | 7 |
| Start Date | 20th January 2025 |
| Duration | 8 Weeks |
| Mode of Delivery | Online, On-demand |
| Lead Academic | Dr. James Matthews |
| Fee | Full Fee: €341.25 *Subsidised Fee: €170.63 *50% Learner Fee Subsidy for eligible learners (Please see below) |
| Application Deadline | 10th January 2025 |
Globally, there is an increasing trend in the prevalence of cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic disease which places a considerable burden on healthcare systems. Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviours such as regular physical activity or a balanced diet can help to reduce the risk of developing these chronic non-communicable diseases. However, most adults are insufficiently active, and the rates of obesity are rising across countries. Thus, understanding how to support people to successfully change their behaviour is becoming increasingly important for healthcare professionals in dealing with this key public health challenge.
The Advancing Healthcare: Behaviour Change Principles for Healthy Living micro-credential has been developed to provide healthcare professionals with an understanding of how to apply the science of behaviour change to facilitate individuals to initiate and sustain healthy lifestyle behaviours. This micro-credential will enable learners to recognise the factors that influence behaviour, and how they can use behaviour change theories and techniques to develop interventions focused at the individual and group levels. Learners will also develop knowledge of the communication skills needed to support client behaviour change and recognise how technology can be used to facilitate healthy lifestyles.
Testimonial
Dr Mark Doyle, Community Outreach Worker in Sexual Health.
"This micro-credential is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of behaviour change approaches. As a community outreach worker in sexual health, I found the strategies relevant and adaptable in promoting healthier behaviours amongst our service users. The techniques covered also have broad applicability across various healthcare settings and populations. The flexibility to learn at my own pace was a great benefit, and the learning resources provided were accessible and engaging."
On completion of this micro-credential, you will be able to:
- Appraise the evidence for health-related behaviour change approaches for individuals and groups.
- Describe the psychosocial and environmental factors that influence health behaviour.
- Identify and apply appropriate behaviour change techniques for healthy lifestyle behaviours.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the communication skills required to support health-related behaviour change.
- Understand the role of technology in facilitating healthy lifestyle behaviours.
- Understand how to implement appropriate behaviour change support for a particular healthy lifestyle behaviour.
- An introduction to theories of behaviour change.
- Understanding the factors that influence behaviour (change).
- Defining a behavioural problem in terms of what needs to change.
- Selecting behaviour change techniques for an individual or group level intervention.
- Understanding the role of communication skills to support behaviour change.
- How to use technology to facilitate behaviour change.
- Common pitfalls in supporting behaviour change.
- Putting it into practice: Designing and implementing an effective behaviour change intervention for individuals/groups.
By completing this micro-credential, learners will gain knowledge and understanding of key principles for health-related behavior change.
The graduates of this course will hold a micro-credential certificate in behaviour change principles, enabling them to support clients to initiate and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours. It is highly important to recognise the context where the support provided is beneficial and appropriate and where it will be important to refer the clients onwards.
This micro-credential is designed to be completed independently, in your own time. This on-demand learning can empower potential students who may be working in industry or in part-time jobs with moving hours to fit this course into their schedule. The course is made up of a series of interactive online lectures, which are complemented by online resources such as papers, videos, and transcripts of the lessons.
This course is 5 ECTS, requiring approximately 100 hours of learning in total.
Applicants must have a minimum BSc qualification (NFQ level 8) in allied healthcare. Proof of healthcare qualification is necessary, this may be in the form of proof of registration with their relevant Professional Body, e.g CORU. Where this is not possible, University transcripts will suffice.
Professional experience in exercise prescription, nutrition or related healthcare environments is also considered.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.
All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Weekly MCQ – 50%
- Assignment – 50%
- Written feedback will be provided for assignments.
Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application.
Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3
The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only from March 2024 until October 2025. Funded places are limited and course providers will administer the subsidy on a first come first serve basis.
Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.
The School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science's Advancing Healthcare: Optimising Nutrition and Advancing Healthcare: Exercise Prescription micro-credentials may also be of interest to learners.
If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.