MA/MS in Lifestyle Medicine

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: to educate a specialist in lifestyle medicine who can comprehensively assess lifestyle and chronic disease risk factors, formulate a lifestyle intervention plan, and apply the latest science- based non-pharmacological lifestyle interventions (nutrition, physical activity, psychoemotional resilience management, social environment) for the reversal, treatment and prevention of chronic diseases. Learning outcomes: 1.1 Be able to identify and assess risk factors for the development and progression of chronic diseases. 1.2 Be able to formulate a lifestyle intervention plan at the personal health (individualised) level. 1.3 Know and be able to apply science-based lifestyle change clinical interventions (nutrition, physical activity, psycho-emotional resilience management, social environment) for the reversal, treatment, and prevention of chronic diseases. 1.4 Know the principles of health promotion, advocacy, and disease prevention. 1.5 Know the basics of health law, health economics and management, and health insurance. 1.6. know the legal basis for the organization and operation of a personal health care institution, the principles of the administration of personal health care institutions, and be able to apply them to the field of lifestyle medicine. 2.1 Applying quantitative and qualitative scientific work principles and methods, collecting data using information systems and databases, and using empirical research methods to analyze and critically evaluate the results of lifestyle medicine research. 2.2. be able to search the latest scientific literature and critically evaluate and interpret the research results. 3.1 Be able to apply methods of assessing harmful lifestyle factors (psychoactive substance use, nutrition, physical activity, stress, emotional state) and the principles of brief interventions. 3.2 Be able to develop individual plans for nutrition, physical activity, and psycho-emotional balance and assess changes to achieve a morphological outcome. 3.3 Be able to formulate the organization, means, and methods of preventing chronic diseases, criteria for applying health promotion and preventive measures, and clinical principles of a healthy lifestyle. Demonstrate the principles of systems thinking in formulating a holistic lifestyle intervention plan that meets individual needs, arguing for opinions and choices based on the latest scientific knowledge and good clinical practice. Activities of teaching and learning: Lifestyle medicine studies use innovative learning methods to develop students' creativity and general and specific competencies. Theoretical knowledge is acquired through lectures, seminars, and exercises. Practical skills are developed through clinical case simulations in classrooms under the guidance of lifestyle medicine lecturers. Lifestyle medicine is a professional practice in personal and public healthcare institutions that have concluded cooperation agreements with the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University. Methods of assessment of learning achievements: It uses a cumulative assessment method (oral and written questioning, testing, presentations, case studies, projects (individual and group), presentations, discussions, critical review of a scientific publication, etc.) and assesses the tasks performed during the semester or the knowledge and skills acquired during the semester. Each subject is concluded with an examination or final test. Examinations shall be written or written and oral. Students' knowledge in the examinations shall be assessed on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 10 (excellent). The assessment must be objective and professionally carried out, considering the knowledge gained in the assessment and examination. The evaluation is based on the procedure for assessing study achievements approved by Vilnius University Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: Lifestyle Medicine and Health Advocacy (5 kr.), Chronic Diseases: etiology, prevention and reversal (5kr.), Research in Lifestyle Medicine (5 kr.), Psychoemotional Health and Lifestyle (5 kr.), Nutritional Interventions in Lifestyle Medicine (10 kr.), Physical Activity in Lifestyle Medicine (10 kr.), Research field in clinical lifestyle medicine (5 kr.), Principles of patient counselling (5 kr.), Prevention of harmful habits (5 kr.), Sleep hygiene and prevention (5 kr.), Fields of clinical practice in lifestyle medicine ( 5kr.), Master's thesis (15 kr.), Clinical practice (10 kr.), Practice of lifestyle medicine (10 kr.) Specialisations: - Optional courses: Human and household chemistry. Systemic effects, relationship to chronic disorders (5 kr.), Quality of healthcare and leadership (5 kr.), Health policy and health promotion strategies (5 kr.), Additional non-pharmacological measures in the management of chronic diseases: yoga, Qigong, breathing, etc. (5 kr.), Supplementary measures in the management of chronic diseases: dietary supplementation (5 kr.), Positive psychology (5 kr.) Distinctive features of a study programme: Modern and innovative teaching methods Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: Graduates of the GM programme are eligible to work in the health sector, as well as in private consultancy. Access to further study: The postgraduate programme offers the opportunity to study for a PhD in medicine and health sciences.