The Research Group for Acute and Critically Ill Patients at the Department of Health and Care Sciences works to develop, test, and implement evidence-based interventions that enhance the quality of specialist health services. We maintain a particular focus on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), patient and caregiver involvement, and initiatives that support healthcare professionals and students in practice and learning processes throughout the entire chain of care—from prevention to follow-up and palliative care.
Our research largely involves complex interventions, and we utilize international frameworks for the development and evaluation of such measures. This includes needs assessment, evidence synthesis, development and piloting of interventions, testing through qualitative and quantitative methods, process evaluation, and implementation work.
The research group is multidisciplinary, consisting of senior researchers, lecturers, associate professors, PhD candidates, and staff in clinical dual positions. While the group is in a phase of further development, it has already established a strong professional community and a growing portfolio of projects within areas such as:
Intensive care nursing
Cardiac rehabilitation
Digital competence
Educational technology (VR/XR)
Pediatric rehabilitation
Patient safety
We maintain extensive collaborations regionally, nationally, and internationally. The group participates in projects alongside the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) and other health trusts within the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord), as well as research environments at NTNU, Oslo University Hospital, St. Olavs Hospital, University of Oulu, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Edinburgh, and various European professional networks.
The research group works purposefully to realize UiT’s Strategy 2030, with a particular emphasis on strengthening research competence in the North, promoting knowledge specifically relevant to specialist health services, and contributing actively to interdisciplinary and international research collaboration.








