Markus Saarijärvi

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the research group Health Science and e-Health. My research focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of complex care interventions for individuals with chronic illnesses and their relatives. I am the project leader for the national research project Stepstones-Implement, which aims to implement and evaluate an evidence-based, person-centered transition program for young people with chronic health conditions transitioning to adult healthcare.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2011, University of Gothenburg

Master of Science in Nursing 2013 (Intensive Care), University of Gothenburg

Double doctoral degree in Healthcare Sciences (University of Gothenburg) and Biomedical Sciences (KU Leuven) 2022.

My clinical background is in intensive care, transplantation healthcare, cardiac care, and refugee medicine. I have been working within different academic institutions since 2015 in various roles, including coordinator of clinical education, doctoral student, lecturer, and researcher.

My research concerns various aspects of complex interventions, from the development phase to implementation.

Research Projects

Stepstones-Implement (PI - collaboration with the University of Gothenburg and six university hospitals in Sweden)

The main purpose of Stepstones-Implement is to implement an effective and sustainable person-centered transition program (Stepstones transition program) for young people with heart diseases and other groups of young individuals with chronic conditions. This is achieved through three specific objectives:

1. Investigating supportive factors and barriers to the implementation and establishment of a person-centered transition program for youth with heart defects at six university hospitals in Sweden that provide specialized care for youth with heart diseases.

2. Implementing a person-centered transition program with predefined implementation strategies at six university hospitals in Sweden that offer specialized care for youth with heart defects and evaluating the impact on patient-reported outcomes (e.g., empowerment, degree of preparation for transition, quality of life, and experiences of the transition) and attitudes toward transition care among involved healthcare professionals.

3. Studying the significance of specially trained local facilitators for implementation and sustainability.

Stepstones-South Africa (Project Coordinator)

The main purpose of Stepstones-South Africa is to adapt and implement an effective and sustainable person-centered transition program (Stepstones transition program) for youth with chronic conditions in a South African context.

Digi-Stepstones (Co-researcher - collaboration with the University of Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland Region)

The Digi-STEPSTONES study aims to develop and test a person-centered and digital transition program to empower youth with chronic conditions to become active partners in their health and care during the transition to adulthood and adult healthcare. The digital version is based on the previously developed transition program. Currently, three studies are planned under Digi-Stepstones.

Testing (ENGAGE) and evaluation (CHANGE) of a web-based self-help program based on cognitive behavioral therapy for parents whose children have been treated for cancer (Co-researcher)

The project tests and evaluates a web-based, guided self-help program to reduce anxiety and depression in parents whose children have been treated for cancer.

Postoperative Cognitive Recovery, PeriBrainCare (Co-researcher - collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, Västra Götaland Region, and Stockholm Region)

The project aims to explore postoperative neurocognitive recovery among older individuals undergoing surgery. Neurocognitive recovery is studied through various aspects and methods, including analog and digital neurocognitive tests, biomarkers, patient experiences, experiences of relatives, symptoms, signs, relationships with other factors that may be relevant to the development of neurocognitive impairment, and how postoperative neurocognitive recovery evolves over time.

Research Groups

In addition to Health Sciences and eHealth, I am part of the research group Transitions of Care in Health and Healthcare at the University of Gothenburg and Perioperative Care at the Karolinska Institutet.

Grants Received

I have received Forte's starting grant for the project period 2024-2026 and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundations postdoc grant for 2024-2025. Furthermore, I have been a co-applicant on several successful grants from the Swedish Research Council, Forte, and the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Other Achievements and Awards:

I am an associate editor with a focus on knowledge implementation at the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.

Winner of the most cited article in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing in 2022.