Novia UAS Lecturer Irén Vikström-Dahl to Defend Doctoral Dissertation on December 5

For several years, Novia University of Applied Sciences has actively supported employees who wish to pursue doctoral studies alongside their work at the university. Staff members have the opportunity to apply for time for doctoral studies related to their dissertation work, meaning they can conduct doctoral research during working hours.

One of those who took advantage of this opportunity is Irén Vikström-Dahl, working in Health and Welfare at Novia.

Vikström-Dahl began her doctoral studies in 2019 and is conducting research in nursing science at Åbo Akademi University. Her research focuses on examining and mapping clinical competence in elderly care and investigating whether clinical competence affects patient satisfaction. On December 5 at 12:00, Irén Vikström-Dahl will defend her dissertation “Clinical Competence as the Key to Good Care – Assessing Competence to Improve Nursing Care for Older Persons” in the Academic Hall, Academill, Åbo Akademi.

"The opportunity to study during working hours has been a great help. I’ve been able to focus on my research. Time that I would otherwise have spent applying for external funding and scholarships for my studies, I’ve instead been able to dedicate to research," says Irén Vikström-Dahl.

Vikström-Dahl works as a lecturer, head of education, and vice head of department at Novia and has had a flexible arrangement for her research studies.

"The recommendation is to take 1–3 months off at a time, but that wouldn’t have worked as well with my job, so I’ve taken hours from my work schedule for my studies. It has truly been flexible of Novia to offer me the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies according to my circumstances," Irén continues.

Over three years, Vikström-Dahl has been granted nine months of time for doctoral studies. She has been able to use this time flexibly, according to operational needs. This has been challenging since she has held many different roles while conducting research. During her research periods, a substitute has been hired for the teaching she would otherwise have been responsible for.

Quick Facts About the Dissertation
The growing elderly population and limited resources place high demands on elderly care. Older persons in care facilities often have complex health conditions, requiring care staff to have both high clinical competence and strong clinical decision-making skills to provide high-quality care.

The aim of the dissertation was to examine care staff’s clinical competence and competence in clinical decision-making in elderly care and to analyze whether these factors affect older patients’ satisfaction. Three sub-studies were conducted: the first assessed clinical competence among nurses and practical nurses, the second identified factors influencing competence levels, and the third examined the relationship between CDM competence and patient satisfaction.

The results show that only one-fourth of nurses and one-third of practical nurses passed objective tests of clinical competence, despite high self-assessments. The use of evidence-based care guidelines was low. Swedish as the working language, higher age, and longer experience correlated positively with competence. Furthermore, a clear link emerged between competence in clinical decision-making and patient satisfaction, especially when care was perceived as competent and tailored to individual needs.

The dissertation emphasizes the need for objective competence assessment, targeted continuing education, and increased use of evidence-based care guidelines to improve care quality, patient safety, and satisfaction in elderly care.

Why did you want to pursue a doctorate?
I’ve always had an interest in further studies; much depended on timing, the right moment, and an interesting research area. It has been a challenge, but also what made the research so engaging," says Vikström-Dahl.

Have you benefited from your doctoral studies in your job?
Absolutely. I’ve gained greater insight into project work and research overall. It has also given me better conditions to be a stronger supervisor for thesis work and thus support our students more effectively.

It has also been inspiring to take courses at other universities, which provides ideas for how to develop our own teaching."*

Do you recommend doctoral studies to others?
Yes, I do, but it’s important to remember that this is a long-term project requiring discipline, patience, stamina, and quite a bit of persistence. I’ve greatly benefited from being surrounded by competent and committed people—both supervisors and colleagues—who have provided clear frameworks for the study process and opportunities for recovery.

Above all, I want to highlight the invaluable support from my colleagues and supervisors. Their competence and commitment, as skilled lecturers, have not only inspired me but also created the conditions that made it possible for me to complete this work alongside my leadership responsibilities."*

Additional Information
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Irén Vikström-Dahl, tel. 044 780 5379

Sender:
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Communications Manager Jenny Svartsjö, tel. 050 561 7803