Anni Pakarinen
Docent, PhD, MHSc, RN
ankorh@utu.fi +358 29 450 4711 +358 50 440 9740 Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku |
Health promotion, Digital health, Digital interventions, Gamification, health games, Wellbeing of children, adolescents and families, Case management, Design Thinking
I am a registered nurse specialized in medical-surgical nursing, holding 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 Senior Researcher at the Department of Nursing Science, where my work focuses on health promotion, interdisciplinary research, and the development of innovative healthcare solutions.
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.
- HOP ON-DROP OFF (2014)
- Terveyttä tieteestä -blogi
- Promoting Children’s Health with Digital Games: A Review of Reviews (2014)
- Games for Health
- Promoting health with health game interventions (2014) Anni Pakarinen, Heidi Parisod, Lotta Kauhanen
- Ravitsemuskasvatus voi olla hauskaa - Digitaaliset pelit lasten terveellisten ruokailutottumusten edistämisessä (2014)
- Bolus
- The advantages and limitations of digital games in children’s health promotion (2014)
- Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare