The Program of Research - Promoting Health and Quality of Care
In the program Promoting Health and Quality of Care, research are conducted with the aim to promote patient’s health in a safe and equal care of high quality. Our research also aims to develop knowledge contributing to a sustainable development within health care in agreement with United Nations global goals for health.

Our research program comprises of three overarching research areas:
- Models and Innovations for Safe Care
- Management of Complex Ill-Health Conditions
- Competence and Professional Development in Nursing
Research within the program are conducted with both quantitative- and qualitative methods and comprises amongst others of theory- and method development as well as of interventions studies based on both empirical- and quality register data and with longtime follow-up. Our research project strives to involve studies within the framework of complex interventions. Within the program there is a long tradition and expertise around instrument development where ‘Quality from the Patients Perspective’ (QPP) excel with a large number of different versions for use in a variety of care contexts. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with Region Värmland as well as with the municipalities in Värmland. Within the program we strive to collaborate with researchers in other areas and disciplines at Karlstad University as well as with other national and international researchers and research groups.
Models and Innovations for Safe Care
In this research area, models and innovations for safe care are studied from the perspectives of patients, their significant others and health care professionals. Research in this area is conducted with different research methods and in a variety of contexts of care, and on different societal levels, that is micro-, macro and meso-levels. The research comprises of theoretical- and methodological development, new technologies and digital solutions together with the implementation of innovations and models for care. The main goal is to offer knowledge about how to safeguard continuity, participation in care, safe care and quality of care.
Management of Complex Ill-Health Conditions
In the research area: management of complex ill-health conditions patients, their significant others and health care professionals’ different perspectives are studied. Research in this area focuses on symptoms, symptom clusters, functional- and selfcare abilities in relation to different illnesses and their treatments. Focus are additionally on processes, and factors related to health, quality of life, morbidity and survival but also multimorbidity and rehabilitation for patients in all ages.
Competence and Professional Development in Nursing
The research area – competence and professional development in nursing are mainly studied from the perspectives of nursing students and registered nurses from the lifelong learning perspective. However, research is also conducted from the perspective of patients, significant others and from other health care professionals than nurses. Focus are on the professional- and competence development in different contexts and at different educational- and clinical role levels. The process of learning and the effect and effectiveness of different educational models and interventions are also studied within this research area.
