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test causality, and these continue to be rare. Process evaluations are increasingly used to assess whether an intervention has changed the targeted theoretical construct with resulting effects on the outcome variable.
and to date there have been 10 ‘Health Psychologists in Training’ on this programme. However, it is not yet clear how the training and professional roles for health psychologists will be funded in future. The numbers of postgraduates undertaking PhDs in HP has risen very impressively over the past 25 years, Intervention and many of these also completed Health psychologists are Stage 1 and 2 HP training, thus increasingly involved in developing qualifying as BPS-accredited health In 1985 Marie Johnston and John Weinman argued interventions to change behaviour psychologists. for the establishment of a Health Psychology Section with a view to improving health On the basis of teaching and outcomes, and this competency has research, a number of university been added to the professional departments have developed strong HP training in HP. Interventions derive from contracted to focus on the competencies research groups that have been influential two main traditions: persuasive messages needed by staff to deliver behaviour in establishing the international based on social psychology, and cognitive change programmes, and the work recognition of UK HP research. behavioural methods more related to resulted in the Health Behaviour Change clinical psychology. While many Competency Framework (2010; see Conclusions tinyurl.com/628slol). Health psychologists successful interventions have been We have been mightily impressed by are also often asked to respond to NICE published in HP and medical journals, what has been achieved in HP from small and government consultations both evidence synthesis has made it clearer beginnings. HP research has developed directly and through the DHP Specialist than ever that we need shared transparent a large body of evidence with increasing Knowledge List as part of DHP Publicity methods for describing interventions in sophistication of theory and methods and Liaison. Health psychologists also order to have a cumulative body of used. Intervention development and serve on research and health committees evidence that can be applied in practice evaluation is now on a more secure including MRC, NIHR, NICE, Scottish (e.g. M. Johnston & Vogele, 1993; Michie footing and looks promising for the Government Chief Scientist Committee. et al., 2009). The work done by Abraham future. We are increasingly called on and Michie (2008) and colleagues in as consultants or collaborators on developing reliable methods of describing Teaching and training programmes and projects where behaviour change techniques using a Health psychology is taught in behaviour may influence health, illness or taxonomy approach is a significant undergraduate psychology courses, health care. Thus there continues to be a advance, but indicates the amount of in postgraduate master’s and doctoral need for well-trained health psychologists work to be done. The future evidence courses and in training other health and for other health professionals to have base for interventions will depend on the professions. To become a full member of health psychology inputs. publication of studies that have both clear the Division of Health Psychology and The challenges lie in ensuring that trial methods and descriptions that allow apply for chartered status a student needs professional commitments do not reliable replication. a BPS-approved psychology degree, MSc undermine our contributions to highin health psychology (Stage 1) and two quality research, in enabling professional Consultancy and committees years supervised practice thereafter (Stage health psychologists to gain the posts that In offering consultancy, health allow HP to make optimal inputs to health 2). To practise health psychology, they psychologists bring their theory and and health care and in continuing to also need to be registered with the HPC. methods to address identified problems, integrate our work with that of other Most university psychology and this has been clearest in consultancy psychological as well as biomedical departments were slow to recognise HP disciplines. We are confident that the to government. Work for the Public as a distinct area, and even now it is still current strength of health psychology can Health Directorate of the Westminster relatively uncommon for it to be taught meet these challenges. This issue illustrates government by Susan Michie, Charles as a mandatory part of the undergraduate this, by asking top figures in the field to Abraham and Nicky Rumsey focused on psychology degree. Nevertheless, there are choose a significant contribution to the behaviour change to reduce behavioural now good textbooks, including several UK field and the health of the nation. risk factors for disease, such as smoking, texts in more than one edition (e.g. low physical activity, alcohol use and Morrison & Bennett, 2006; Ogden, 2007). I Marie Johnston ‘unhealthy’ diet. Amongst other things, In contrast to the patchy role of HP in is Professor of Health Psychology at the they completed major reviews (Abraham the undergraduate curriculum, the UK has University of Aberdeen & Michie, 2008; Michie et al, 2009) that seen the strong development of m.johnston@abdn.ac.uk contributed to the Wanless Report (2004; postgraduate training, particularly in the see tinyurl.com/6l2kzfs), and the form of master’s (Stage 1) programmes. I John Weinman From the first master’s courses in HP in Choosing Health public health White is Head of Health Psychology Section at 1988 (London, City and Surrey) rapid Paper (2004). Michie and Rumsey led the Institute of Psychiatry expansion has resulted in well over 20 the writing of the NHS Health Trainer accredited courses, plus a few doctoralManual (2007) and the development I Angel Chater level professional HP courses. In 2007 the and evaluation of the England-wide is at the University of Bedfordshire Scottish Government (NES) supported the NHS Health Trainer Service. In Scotland, angel.chater@beds.ac.uk first funded Stage 2 trainee places in HP, Diane Dixon and Marie Johnston were
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vol 24 no 12
december 2011