Behavioral Medicine: A Key to Better Health from edX

Behavioral medicine is the science of changing our behavior, so we as individuals can stay healthy and happy as long as we can. In this course on Behavioral Medicine, you will learn about basic behavioral medicine concepts and explore how they can be applied to help people who need to change specific lifestyle behaviors to attain better health. Working with virtual patient interactions will give you a chance to test behavioral medicine interventions. You will also learn self¬-help tools based on behavioral medicine, for whatever you need to change in your own life. In this updated version of the course, you will also explore innovations in how to deliver the tools of behavioral medicine to patients in primary care and psychiatry, and what kind of content digital tools might need to include.

To help people who need to improve their health by changing their behaviors, you will learn about Motivational Interviewing (MI), a counseling style that stimulates behavior change. You will have an opportunity to test basic techniques in MI with a “virtual bartender” who has sleep problems that he is trying to solve by drinking alcohol. The following sections will focus on coping with stress, improving sleep, increasing physical activity and everyday behaviors like hand washing, safer sex and minimizing risky alcohol use.

To complete this course, you will need to spend a total of about 30-40 hours. This time covers course videos, follow-up questions to help you remember what you have learned, course reading (mostly open access scientific articles) and homework tasks. Part of the work is for you to do on your own, and part will be together with other participants in the course community.

This course is offered in collaboration with EIT Health.

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Taught by Anne H. Berman and Sakari Suominen, who are recognized for their work in behavioral medicine

Teaches basic behavioral medicine concepts and explores how they can be applied to help people change specific lifestyle behaviors

Provides opportunities to test behavioral medicine interventions with virtual patient interactions

Covers coping with stress, improving sleep, increasing physical activity, and other everyday behaviors

Includes self-help tools based on behavioral medicine for personal change

Career center

Learners who complete Behavioral Medicine: A Key to Better Health will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Nurse Practitioner

As a Nurse Practitioner, you will provide primary and specialty care to patients across the lifespan. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand how to apply behavioral medicine strategies to help your patients change their behaviors and improve their health. For example, you will learn how to use Motivational Interviewing, a counseling style that stimulates behavior change, to help your patients improve their adherence to medication regimens or make healthier lifestyle choices.

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Health Educator

As a Health Educator, you will design, implement, and evaluate health education programs to promote healthy behaviors and prevent disease. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavioral change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing health education programs.

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Medicine Specialist: Internal Medicine

As a Medicine Specialist in Internal Medicine, you will join an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions, from acute illnesses to chronic conditions. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand how to apply behavioral medicine strategies to help your patients change their behaviors and improve their health. For example, you will learn how to use Motivational Interviewing, a counseling style that stimulates behavior change, to help your patients improve their adherence to medication regimens or make healthier lifestyle choices.

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Fitness Trainer

As a Fitness Trainer, you will help people improve their physical health and fitness. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing fitness programs.

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Wellness Coach

As a Wellness Coach, you will help people improve their overall health and well-being. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing wellness programs.

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Therapist

As a Therapist, you will help people with mental health issues. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing therapy programs.

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Data Scientist

As a Data Scientist, you will use statistical and computational methods to derive insights from data. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the role of data in understanding and promoting healthy behaviors, and how to develop and implement data-driven interventions.

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Biostatistician

As a Biostatistician, you will apply statistical principles to the design, analysis, and interpretation of biomedical research. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the statistical methods that are used to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions, and how to design and conduct clinical trials.

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Sociologist

As a Sociologist, you will study the social behavior of people, and how it affects their health and well-being. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the social factors that influence health behaviors, and how to develop interventions to promote healthy behaviors in different populations.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, you will help people with communication disorders. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing speech-language therapy programs.

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Physical Therapist

As a Physical Therapist, you will help people with disabilities or injuries to improve their movement and function. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing physical therapy programs.

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Occupational Therapist

As an Occupational Therapist, you will help people with disabilities or injuries to improve their functional abilities. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing occupational therapy programs.

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Psychologist

As a Psychologist, you will help people with mental health issues. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing psychological therapy programs.

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Psychiatrist

As a Psychiatrist, you will help people with mental health issues. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the principles of behavior change and how to apply them to your work. You will learn about the different theories of behavior change, as well as the different methods and techniques that can be used to promote healthy behaviors. You will also gain experience in developing and implementing psychiatric therapy programs.

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Epidemiologist

As an Epidemiologist, you will study the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations. This course in Behavioral Medicine will be especially helpful to you, as it will help you understand the role of behavior in the development and prevention of disease, and how to design and conduct studies to investigate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions.

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