1645-0086 1645-0086 S1645-00862002000100001 00 00 2002 00 00 2002 3 1 3 10

Evidence-based health psychology: racionale and support

Yori Gidron*

Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University – Israel

 

Abstract: An evidence-based approach is encouraged to be adopted in health psychology for the following reasons: (1) It directs health psychologists to assess psychological factors that have been demonstrated in research to affect or to be affected by health conditions; (2) It can reduce therapist error in patient-assessment via use of reliable and valid measures in addition to clinical impressions; (3) Basing their knowledge on randomized-controlled trials (RCT), allows clinicians to recommend the use of new interventions with greater scientific and professional validity suitable to the “average patient”; (4) This approach will be more acceptable by the medical community. This review provides empirical examples for the importance of psychological factors in illness, and support for the efficacy of psychological interventions in health and illness such as cancer, coronary heart disease, preparation for surgery, pain-reduction and quality of life. Finally, implications for education of health psychologists are discussed.

Key words: Education of health psychologists, Evidence based health psychology.

 

Psicologia da saúde baseada na evidência:racional e suporte

Resumo: Recomenda-se que a psicologia da saúde adopte uma intervenção baseada na evidência pelas razões seguintes: (1) Orienta o psicólogo a avaliar os factores psicológicos que a investigação tem demonstrado que têm impacto ou são afectadas pelas condições de saúde; (2) contribui para a redução do erro na avaliação pelo terapeuta através do uso de medidas válidas a par das impressões clínicas; (3) Baseando o conhecimento em estudos com grupos de controlo aleatórios, permite aos clínicos recomendarem o uso de novas intervenções com validade científica e profissional apropriadas para o “doente médio”; (4) Esta abordagem é mais aceitável por parte da comunidade médica. A presente revisão fornece exemplos empíricos sobre a importância dos factores psicológicos em doenças como o cancro, doença cardíaca coronária, preparação para a cirurgia, redução da dor e qualidade de vida. Finalmente, discute-se as implicações para a educação dos psicólogos da saúde.

]]> Palavras chave: Intervenção em psicologia da saúde, Psicologia da saúde baseada na evidência.

 

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text only available in PDF format.

 

 

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* Contactar para E-mail: yorig@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

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