BFPL031p Psychology

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Pavel Humpolíček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Veronika Kamenská, MBA (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Martin Loučka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tatiana Malatincová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Kateřina Smolková (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavel Strašák (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Rastislav Šumec, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Blanka Suchá (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D.
Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Blanka Suchá
Supplier department: Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Timetable
Thu 8:00–9:40 A19/133
Prerequisites
BKFY0121c Physiology I - practice && BFUL0121c Introduction to physical therapy I - practice && BKFY0222p Physiology II - lecture
Lectures are only in the Czech language.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

This course is intended for physiotherapy students and provides a basic orientation to the role of psychology in healthcare and physiotherapy practice. Its aim is to demonstrate that patient care involves not only somatic aspects, but also psychological and social factors that significantly influence both the course and outcomes of treatment.


Within the course, students become familiar with the differences between the traditional biomedical approach and the more comprehensive biopsychosocial model, and they learn to understand their significance through practical clinical examples. Emphasis is also placed on the development of communication skills – students are introduced to the basic principles of patient communication based on the Calgary–Cambridge model and learn how to apply them in practical situations, including communication with patients experiencing strong emotions or crisis situations.


The course further explores how psychological factors influence the perception of pain and other symptoms and demonstrates their practical implications in physiotherapy. Students also gain a basic overview of psychotherapy and its main approaches, as well as strategies for working with patient motivation during therapy.


An important part of the course is the topic of physiotherapists’ self-care – students are introduced to the importance of maintaining their own mental well-being and learn strategies for fostering resilience and preventing burnout syndrome.

Learning outcomes
  • The student explains the importance of psychology in physiotherapy and describes the differences between the biomedical and biopsychosocial models, including practical examples.
  • The student defines the basic principles of patient communication according to the Calgary–Cambridge model and is able to apply them in practice.
  • The student describes the fundamentals of crisis intervention and communication strategies for working with patients experiencing strong emotions in the context of physiotherapy.
  • The student explains the importance of psychological factors in symptom perception and describes the concepts of placebo and nocebo, including their application in clinical practice.
  • The student explains the principles of psychotherapy, describes the main psychotherapeutic approaches, and discusses their relevance to physiotherapy.
  • The student describes methods of working with patient motivation in the context of physiotherapy.
  • The student explains the importance of self-care and identifies specific strategies for supporting resilience and preventing burnout syndrome in physiotherapy practice.
    • Key topics
    • Psychology in Physiotherapy; Approaches in Medicine
    • Communication with Patients
    • Communication with Children in Physiotherapy
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Pain, Placebo, and Nocebo
    • Psychological Factors in the Context of Symptom Perception
    • Psychotherapy – Neurophysiological Basis and Main Psychotherapeutic Approaches in the Context of Physiotherapy
    • Patient Motivation in Physiotherapy; the Transtheoretical Model in the Context of Rehabilitation
    • Burnout Syndrome and Its Prevention
    • Resilience and Ways to Support the Mental Well-Being of Physiotherapists
    Study resources and literature
      required literature
    • Světlák, M., Slezáčková, A., Šumec, R., & kolektiv. (2026). Praktický průvodce lékařskou psychologií: Jak najít správná slova v klinické medicíně. Grada Publishing. ISBN 978-80-271-5556-9
    • AYERS, Susan and Richard DE VISSER. Psychologie v medicíně. Translated by Helena Hartlová. Vydání 1. Praha: Grada, 2015, xiv, 552. ISBN 9788024752303. URL info
      recommended literature
    • Smith,E.W.L.(2006).Tělo v psychoterapii.Praha:Portál
    • MIKULÁŠTÍK, Milan. Komunikační dovednosti v praxi. 2., dopl. a přeprac. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2010, 325 s. ISBN 9788024723396. URL info
    • BURDA, Patrik. Krizová komunikace s agresivním a hostilním pacientem. Vyd. 1. Brno: Národní centrum ošetřovatelství a nelékařských zdravotnických oborů, 2014, 52 s. ISBN 9788070135648. info
    • ZACHAROVÁ, Eva. Komunikace v ošetřovatelské praxi. 1. vydání. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2016, 121 stran. ISBN 9788027101566. info
    • EVANGELU, Jaroslava Ester. Krizová komunikace : efektivní zvládání krizových a zátěžových situací. Vyd. 1. Ostrava: Key Publishing, 2013, 95 s. ISBN 9788074181757. info
    • The handbook of health behavior change. Edited by Sally A. Shumaker - Judith K. Ockene - Kristin A. Riekert. 3rd ed. New York: Springer Pub. Co., 2009, xxxi, 827. ISBN 0826115454. info
    Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
    Teaching is delivered in the form of lectures that also include practical training in the skills being discussed. The course also involves discussions on key topics, analysis of case studies, and model scenarios, which students may contribute to based on their own clinical placement experiences. Attendance at lectures is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.
    Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

    Assessment is conducted in the form of a final oral examination. The examination takes place in pairs, and each student draws three questions. For each selected question, students are expected not only to present theoretical knowledge but also to demonstrate its practical application in physiotherapy practice. Students register for the examination through the IS MU system. The list of examination questions is available in the course Study Materials.


    Assessment criteria are as follows:

    • A – the student demonstrates excellent understanding of the topic; responses are accurate, well-structured, and clearly connected to physiotherapy practice.
    • B – the student demonstrates very good knowledge with minor inaccuracies; practical application is good.
    • C – the student demonstrates good knowledge with some gaps; practical application is only partial.
    • D – the student demonstrates basic understanding; responses are less accurate and the ability to apply knowledge in practice is limited.
    • E – the student meets the minimum requirements; knowledge is fragmented and practical application is very limited.
    • F – the student does not demonstrate sufficient knowledge or the ability to apply it in practice.
    Alternate completion
    This course cannot be completed in an alternative format. In justified cases, the situation may be discussed individually with the instructor prior to the beginning of the semester; however, the possibility of fully compensating for missed instruction cannot be guaranteed. Any specific alternative arrangements must be agreed upon with the instructor before the course begins.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Teacher's information
    https://is.muni.cz/predmet/med/BFPL031p?lang=cs&obdobi=6903
    Further Comments
    Study Materials
    The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
    The course is taught annually.
    Listed among prerequisites of other courses
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, autumn 2018, autumn 2019, autumn 2020, autumn 2021, autumn 2022, autumn 2023, autumn 2024, autumn 2025.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/autumn2026/BFPL031p