Health Promotion Services Training

Catalog description

This course will provide students with the knowledge and professional skills to deliver peer-based individual health promotion services for the college population. The course will cover a variety of health issues that are relevant to college students, including nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, sleep, and stress (including mindfulness and time management). Students will be taught about each of the health topics over the course of two class sessions. Students will be taught information about how each health topic specifically relates to the college population. Current data about each topic will be included. These issues will be discussed in the context of health promotion principles and applicable health promotion theories. The class will provide an overview of the ecological perspective, but the focus will be on intrapersonal and interpersonal level theories, such as the Stages of Change (Transtheoretical) and Health Belief Models, as well as Social Cognitive Theory. Students will be taught the constructs for each model/theory. Students will be taught about how the theories/models apply to delivering individual health promotion interventions. Students will receive extensive training in motivational interviewing, an evidence-based strategy for promoting health behavior change. The content is designed to help students develop an understanding of the core concepts of motivational interviewing. Students will practice motivational interviewing techniques during class time. The students will deliver individual interventions during class time. Additionally, students will be given course assignments that require them to practice delivering the interventions. Students will learn about professionalism and ethics within the context of delivering individual interventions to college students.