HEALTH CARE EDUCATION AND COMPETENCE (HealthEduCom)

The research group is researching working environments and the competence of healthcare professionals (including staff, educators and students) in order to enhance the quality of patient care through the development of effective education and organizational models that utilize digital enhancement strategies.

Research group information

Contact information

Research group leader

  • Professor
    Kristina Mikkonen

Researchers

Research group description

Research focus areas include:

  • Digital technology education and its effects on the users
  • Competence-based education of vocational, higher degree, and continuous social- and healthcare education
  • Work-related learning environments and mentoring
  • Immigrant workforce- models on the integration of immigrant nurses into healthcare organizations

Research materials include qualitative and quantitative data, psychometrically tested instruments (incl. Mentor Competence InstrumentMentor Cultural Competence InstrumentClinical Learning Environment and Mentoring of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Nursing StudentsSocial- and Health Care Educators' CompetenceHealthcare Professionals' Knowledge in Radiation Protection). The groups uses methods of theory development and testing, interventional studies, systematic reviews with meta-analysis/meta-aggregation, qualitative study with content analysis, psychometrically validated instruments, & algorithmic and concept mapping.

Research group

The research group is lead by professor Kristina Mikkonen. The group includes senior and post-doctoral researchers, doctoral candidates and master students.

Societal impact

In our research group, we are active in collaboration, decision making, and transnational research by representing a need for education and competence development to strengthen health care innovation, sustainability and anticipation.  
 
We generate and synthesize research and evidence for key knowledge needs for health and social care, its education, and competence development both nationally and internationally.

We actively disseminate the evidence in the format of education and its integration into healthcare systems to promote recruitment and retention of the health care workforce and continues career development.   

We promote evidence-based education and competence implementation of effective health care to sustain good health and a person’s wellbeing, equality of competence development, and future career opportunities.