Well-being for Individuals and Families in Nursing (IndFamilyNurs)
Our research is particularly focused on the most vulnerable patient groups, including preterm and full-term newborns, pregnant women and children, as well as adolescents and parents in need of support in their different life situations.
Research group information
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Research group leader
- Professor
Researchers
Research group description
Research focus areas include:
- Promoting family orientation; developing instruments for the evaluation of family-centered care, and increasing the involvement of parents/relatives in the care
- The impact of the care and the natural environment on well-being, emphasizing the diversity of northern nature and its production also virtually for different target groups
- Pain assessment and non-pharmacological methods; (a) developing and testing multimodal assessment tools (considering also related concepts, such as fear, stress, and anxiety), (b) evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods, and (c) increasing the competence of staff through training interventions
- Promoting mental health: developing methods to foster resilience, particularly in young people
Research materials include qualitative and quantitative data based on the interviews, surveys, documents, and physiological parameters collected from children, young people, their families/relatives, and healthcare providers.
The group employs methods such as intervention studies (RCTs), systematic reviews with meta-analysis, and qualitative studies with content analysis. In addition, we develop psychometrically validated instruments, and it is also possible to use a cohort study and theory development and testing.
The goal of our research group is to produce research evidence that enables the development of consistent practices and multidisciplinary innovations to promote family-orientation and the effectiveness of care in nursing environments. The results have the potential to reduce inequalities, promote justice, and increase participation in care for different patient and population groups.
Our goal is to support sustainable development to ensure healthy life and well-being for all ages, also including patients in hospitals. Of particular interest are vulnerable children and their families.
The research project integrates knowledge from different disciplines in an innovative way to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. Collaboration is established with actors of the health service system, local companies, and researchers in various fields nationally and internationally.
If you are interested, please contact: tarja.polkki@oulu.fi
You can also follow us: @indfamilynurs (Instagram), @indfamilynurs tutkimusryhmä (Facebook)
Digi-PEPP - Digital solutions for assessment and treatment of Pain and its related Emotions in Pediatric patients and their Parents
PEARL - Pain in Early Life
Icory Solution- Intelligent Solution for Surgery Care
EduPal - Developing palliative nursing and medical education through multi-disciplinary cooperation and working life collaboration
inDemand - Digital health solutions proposed and co-created with health care organisations
EUROPAIN - EUROpean-Pain-Audit-In-Neonates
