NUI Galway College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences
Course Code: 1PCH1
Course Overview
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion offers students a unique opportunity to further their knowledge of cardiovascular health and diabetes prevention. The programme has been jointly developed by Croí, the west of Ireland Cardiology Foundation, the Irish Heart Foundation and Diabetes Ireland. It aims to enhance health professionals understanding of determinants of health, prevention, lifestyle factors and associated patterns of inequality. It is particularly suited to health professionals working in nursing, public health, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medicine, and the health and weight loss industry.
Designed for healthcare professionals, the programme equips students with an in-depth understanding of how to critically assess the evidence base, understand national and international approaches to the promotion of cardiovascular health and the prevention of diabetes, and appreciate the role of advocacy in influencing health and environmental (public) policies.
Course participants will gain skills and competencies for effective implementation of Health Promotion interventions and project management.
The programme comprises three modules. The first two modules include participation in workshops and self-paced instructional materials with assignments for independent study, while the third module focuses on project work.
1. Concepts and Principles of Health Promotion
This module includes:
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Definitions of health and Health Promotion
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Health Promotion programme development
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Current issues and discourse in Health Promotion policy and practice
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Communication training and facilitation skills.
2. Specialism module
This module includes:
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The determinants of cardiovascular health and type 2 diabetes
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Lifestyle factors and health promotion interventions
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Advocacy and policy in the promotion of cardiovascular health and the prevention of type 2 diabetes
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Promoting cardiovascular health through behaviour change
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Skills and competencies for effective practice.
3. Project development
This module includes
- Students’ designing a Health Promotion Intervention in the area of cardiovascular health and the prevention of type 2 diabetes, working with a specific population group.
Scholarships Available
Find out about Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Applications and Selections
Ruth Garahy | PHARMACIST
Before I started this certificate, I had lots of experience in primary care, (pharmacist for 11 years) but this course provided me with a fascinating overview of all the socioeconomic issues that affect our healthcare outcomes.
I gained an understanding of what health promotion actually is: the intersection of medicine, policy, law, economics and sociology, and how these all affect the management and prevention of chronic illnesses such as diabetes. As the year progressed, the course became more practical and we heard from a diverse range of speakers from Croí etc. which cemented my belief that this course will benefit my practice and my patients for years to come.
I would recommend this course to anyone who has an interest in the future of healthcare and how to best manage the current epidemic of diabetes.
John Treanor | HEALTH AND WELLBEING, DUBLIN SIMON COMMUNITY
Having worked previously in a private capacity in nutrition and health I could see there was a growing problem with non-communicable diseases in Irish society. This is when I became interested in the concept of Health Promotion in a broader sense.
Through taking part in this course I have learned a massive amount about public policy and identifying barriers to health, designing interventions to suit specific population groups and the importance of monitoring and quantifying your effects and outcomes. I have progressed in my career and am now working on large interventions in health and wellbeing for homeless populations in Dublin’s Simon Community.
Overall this course has strengthened my working prospects, skill-set in the area and confidence.