0:00
I'm Dr. Gina Touch Mercer,
a clinical psychologist
and the director of
the behavioral and social
sciences curriculum at
the University of Arizona
College of Medicine
in Phoenix, Arizona.
I'd like to talk to
you today about what
behavioral medicine is
and what it can do,
and how it relates to both
personal and public health.
0:27
Today, I will introduce and
define behavioral medicine
and identify its
six core domains.
I will highlight the KSASBs,
the requisite knowledge,
procedures and skills,
implicit attitudes
and behaviors
associated with this
interdisciplinary field.
I will briefly review
the types of specialists
who provide behavioral
medicine and
and the settings in
which it is practiced.
I will end by identifying
the applications and
outcomes of behavioral medicine.
1:06
To begin, behavioral medicine
is an interdisciplinary field,
including both research
and clinical practice
that relates human behavior
and health outcomes.
Behavioral medicine
discovers, develops,
and integrates the
specific behavioral,
psychological, social, cultural,
and biomedical factors
that cause us to be
ill and to be well.
There is a body of knowledge,
evidence-based techniques,
and technologies that
distinguish this field,
and I will introduce you to these
in a series of brief talks.
Behavioral medicine is grounded
in a solid understanding
of human development
and human behavior.
However, understanding
these influences involves
understanding the context
of human behavior.
The historical, social,
and cultural norms,
rules, roles, responsibilities,
and relationships in
which people engage.
This includes relationships
between patients
and their healthcare providers,
and their interactions with
the healthcare systems
and broad social systems in
which they are embedded.
Behavioral medicine utilizes
this contextual and
relational knowledge
and applies evidence-based
techniques to diagnose,
treat, and rehabilitate
illness and injury.
Behavioral medicine
also serves to identify
and mitigate risks to
promote resilience,
health, and well-being.
Ultimately, it exists
to prevent illness.
