Anni Pakarinen
Docent, PhD, MHSc, RN
ankorh@utu.fi +358 29 450 4711 +358 50 440 9740 Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9077-1663 |
Health promotion, Digital health, Digital interventions, Gamification, health games, Wellbeing of children, adolescents and families, Case management, Design Thinking
I am a registered nurse with a specialization in medical–surgical nursing and hold both a Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) and a PhD in Nursing Science. Since 2025, I have held the title of Docent in Nursing Science at the University of Turku. Currently, I serve as a Serra Hunter Distinguished Professor at the Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy at the University of Lleida, Spain. My work focuses on health promotion, interdisciplinary research, and the development of innovative healthcare solutions. Through my docentship and supervisory roles, I also maintain strong academic and research connections with the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Turku.
My research focuses on health promotion and digital interventions, particularly on serious games and gamified applications, as well as sensor technlogy and wearables. My research approaches the topic from many perspectives; development through user-centered design process, evaluation of the usability, feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention, as well as the implementation process of digital interventions. The research aims to provide both the knowledge and methods to support the work of professionals, to promote the health of individuals and to support the use of high-quality and evidence-based digital interventions in health and social care for disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The aim is also to provide information that can be used in the design and development of new digital interventions for health promotion purposes.
PI in Gamification for Health reseaech programme: https://sites.utu.fi/nursingscienceresearchprogrammes/intelligent-health/gamification-for-health/
I have experience in teaching and planning of teaching in following courses: Design thinking for health- and social care, Health Innovations- from ideas to impact in device development, Digital culture and health (Asklepios), Research and reportage in Nursing Science, Evidence based practice, Design Thinking in healthcare innovation, Case management (continuing education) and Digitalisation supporting Clinical Nursing. I also supervise students in Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level.
- The development and feasibility of gamified digital intervention aiming to promote physical activity in early childhood (2018) Pakarinen Anni
(G5 Article dissertation ) - Acceptability of and Demand for a Tobacco-Related Health Game Application in Early Adolescents with Different Gender, Age and Gaming Habits (2017)
- CEUR Workshop Proceedings
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication ) - Association of Self-Perceived Physical Competence and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in ChildhoodA Follow-Up Study (2017)
- Journal of School Health
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Comparison of Fitbit One® Against ActiGraph in Measuring Habitual Physical Activity of Children (2017) Hamari L, Kullberg T, Ruohonen J, Heinonen OJ, Díaz-Rodríguez N, Lilius J, Pakarinen A, Myllymäki A, Leppänen V, Salanterä S.
(Other publication) - Designing a Health-Game Intervention Supporting Health Literacy and a Tobacco-Free Life in Early Adolescence (2017)
- Games for Health
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Digitaalisia työkaluja hyvinvoinnin tukemiseen (2017)
- Turun Sanomat
(E1 Popularised article) - Health game interventions to enhance physical activity self-efficacy of children: a quantitative systematic review (2017)
- Journal of Advanced Nursing
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - HyväMe-sovellus - digitaalinen työkalu lastenneuvolatyöhön (2017)
- Terveydenhoitaja
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Hyvinvoinnista ja vähän sen mittaamisestakin (2017)
- Terveyttä tieteestä -blogi
(E1 Popularised article) - Lasten hyvinvointia edistämässä digitaalisin menetelmin (2017)
- Terveyttä tieteestä -blogi
(E1 Popularised article)



