Our research group aims at promoting the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. Our research and development efforts produce evidence-based information to be used in counselling, interventions and care of patients with acute or long-term illnesses. The role of food as a contributor to wellbeing is one of our interests. We carry out research on both preventive, curative and palliative care and nutrition care. In addition, we develop simulation-based education and remote counselling.
Research areas
- Health, function, healthy lifestyle and self-care (e.g. people with long-term illness, people of South Ostrobothnia)
- Care for prevalent diseases (cardiovascular, DM, neurological diseases etc.)
- Attractiveness and retention of nursing and food and hospitality management
- Simulation pedagogy
- Identification of abuse in prehospital care and emergency outpatient clinics
- Collegiality in emergency outpatient care and home care, decision-making, counselling and situational awareness in nursing
- Technological solutions in health counselling and the development of remote counselling
- Health literacy
- Early identification and interventions for young people with mental health and coping problems
- Identification of addictions (intoxicants, drugs, Internet, games) and the development of new interventions
- Healthy relationship with food
- Identification and prevention of malnutrition in aged people; use and dissemination of measuring instruments
- Support for family care-giving
- Developing counselling to promote child and youth health through holistic family encounters
Ongoing projects
- Vegetarian food and plant proteins in food services – KasvisPro training, Finnish Food Authority
- The aged at home – promotion of function and good nutrition. Adopting a multiprofessional approach as a student, Tampere Talouskoulun säätiö (Home Economics Foundation)
- Collaboration between food services and households as a driver of a sustainable food system, Tampere Talouskoulun säätiö (Home Economics Foundation)
- Tech2Match project, use of technology in patient care
- Licensure of non EU/EEA nurses SAILA1 (Ministry of Education and Culture)
- Competency services for non EU/EEA nurses SAILA2 (Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment)
- Young people’s food and health behaviour
- Social media and digital gaming addictions in South Ostrobothnia youth
- Promotion of nutritional health in wellbeing services counties
- Health-promoting lifestyle and health behaviours in South Ostrobothnia
- Identification of abuse in prehospital care and emergency outpatient clinics
- Steppi2 development of primary care project
- Food Step co operation, https://ruoka-askel.fi/en/
Completed projects
- Pitkospuut (Duckboards) project for unemployed job-seekers, ESR
- Simulation-based education for small and medium-sized companies, ESR
- Oivallista Ruokaa (excellent food) –project, Ruokavirasto
- VeRa- Enhancing the attractiveness of the food service field and strengthening connections with working life, ESR
- Co-development of healthier reformulated successful food products in South-Ostrobothnia, Tekes/EAKROivallista Ruokaa –hanke, Ruokavirasto
- STEPPI1 primary care development (South Ostrobothnia and Vaasa Hospital Districts, Seinäjoki UAS, University of Turku etc. 2016-2020)
- Healthy Kids of Seinäjoki (HKS) model, a regional strength and source of entrepreneurial growth (2019-2021, Seinäjoki City, Into Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki UAS)
- Sote-peda digital services for health and social services 24/7 (1.3.2018-31.12.2020)
- TERVAS project: Healthy choices- models for healthy eating and exercise 2009-2012 (Universities of Turku and Vaasa, Seinäjoki UAS)
- EVICURES EBD planning for intensive care (South Ostrobothnia Hospital District (2014-2016)
- RDI coaching for universities of applied sciences
- New models for the maintenance and support of wellbeing at work, a network of services for South Ostrobothnia (1.12.2011 – 31.3.2015)
- Developing counselling for patients and their escorts in Seinäjoki Central Hospital emergency clinic (South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki UAS, University of Tampere 2002-2012)
- Quality and effectiveness of out-of hospital emergency care (South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki UAS, University of Tampere 2013-2018)
- Telephone Counselling by experts (South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki UAS, University of Tampere 2007-2008)
Other
Mari Salminen-Tuomaala
- Docent, Associate professor, Nursing science, University of Tampere, Faculty of Social Sciences, Health Sciences
- Member of a national network for health care education
- Network for Advanced Practice Nursing Master’s degrees in Universities of Applied Sciences
- Member of the steering group, national STEPPI2 project for the development of primary care
- Member, European Society of Cardiology
Kaija Nissinen
- Member of the Nutrition Education Planning Group, Association of Clinical and Public Health Nutritionists in Finland RTY
- Member of the National Catering Expert Team