Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare (FinJeHeW) is a scientific journal maintained by the Finnish Social and Health Informatics Association (FinnSHIA) and the Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth (FSTeH). ISSN 1798-0798
Finnish Social and Health Informatics Association
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Digital work-related control, satisfaction and coping among health and social care professionals
Digital work has significantly increased in health and social care in Finland and globally. Even though digital tools offer numerous opportunities, their continuously increased use is transforming the work of professionals in the field. As work changes, professionals’ opportunities to control their own work, satisfaction, and coping with work requirements may be challenged. The aim of this study was to examine whether health and social care professionals feel that they have control over the amount of digital work they perform, whether they are satisfied with this amount, and whether they perceive that digital work is supporting their coping with work requirements. The study was conducted using convenience sampling across three medium-sized wellbeing services counties in Finland. A total of 991 professionals responded to a Webropol survey. Using logistic regression analyses, we examined how age, professional group, employment sector, managerial position, perceived organisational justice, and team climate are associated with professionals’ experiences of control and satisfaction regarding the amount of digital work, as well as perceived support for coping with work requirements from digital work. The results showed that 38% of respondents felt they had control over the amount of digital work they performed, 62% were satisfied with this amount, and 54% perceived digital work as supporting their coping. Organisational justice was associated with perceptions of greater control and satisfaction regarding digital work, and greater perceptions of that digital work supports coping. Those in managerial roles reported higher levels of control opportunities, satisfaction, and coping support related to digital work than professionals without managerial duties. Our findings indicate that digital work does not yet fully meet the needs of social and health care professionals, and organisational development efforts are still needed. Organizational justice—particularly related to leadership—is a key factor in professionals’ experiences of control opportunities, satisfaction, and coping related to digital work. As digitalisation continues to advance, it is essential to strengthen fair leadership practices, procedures and reward systems, especially in nursing.
Copyright (c) 2026 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Multidisciplinary documentation as a tool on shared knowledge creation – registered nurses’ view
Multidisciplinary cooperation has a long tradition in healthcare and social services, and it is vital to both the continuity of care and providing wider picture of patient care. Legislation and clinical practice guidelines require multidisciplinary teamwork if it is necessary for patient’s or client’s situation. The aim of multidisciplinary teamwork is shared knowledge creation and its documentation in electronic health records and client information systems. Cooperation needs to be practiced and there might be challenges and that will challenge also documentation. The aim of this study was to research registered nurses’ experience in information systems supporting multiprofessional documentation in their work during nursing process. A practical sampling for registered nurses was performed in Spring 2023 when Finnish Nurses Association and Tehy forwarded online survey to their working-age members. The nurses were asked how the information system supports multidisciplinary documentation, work unit, brand name of system and their competence of its use. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the data (n=2950). Less than half of the respondents informed that information systems do not support multidisciplinary documentation. Information systems support for documentation of multidisciplinary care planning and support for documentation of multidisciplinary care implementation were experienced critically. Responses were more varied in working environments and information systems. Factors supporting multidisciplinary documentation were not found. More research will be needed in multidisciplinary documentation on how to develop multidisciplinary documentation seamless for multidisciplinary teamwork.
Interpretations and views of hospital specialists and residents on the decision-making process, documentation, and education of the Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order
A Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order is one of the most important medical decisions in providing adequate end-of-life care. Physicians in general perceive challenges in decision-making and in interpreting DNAR orders. Our objectives were to explore hospital specialists' and residents’ opinions and perceptions of the DNAR order-making process and training related to DNAR order-making. A link to the web-based multiple-choice questionnaire was sent by e-mail to all physicians working in the special responsibility area of the Tampere University Hospital. The questionnaire covered several issues related to DNAR orders, including their meaning and documentation. Participants responded anonymously. Residents' responses were compared with those of specialists. 219 physicians covering all specialties responded. A total of 155 (71%) were specialists and 64 (29%) were residents. Challenges in DNAR order-making, documentation, and interpretation were more common among residents (60%) than among specialists (34%) (p < 0.001). Training in DNAR order-making was considered adequate by 40% (n=25) of the residents, compared with 61% (n=94) of the specialists (p=0.007). Structured education on DNAR protocols and end-of-life decision-making should be incorporated into all clinical specialty training programs. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-support tools into electronic health record (EHR) systems may further enhance consistency and accuracy in the DNAR process.
Information security and data protection in wellbeing services counties in autumn 2025
Building information security and data protection by experts, along with regular updates, is a prerequisite for the safe use of digital services and information systems in healthcare and social services. The purpose of the study was to examine the views of chief information officers or chief digital officers in wellbeing services counties (WSCs) regarding information security and data protection practices. The Digital Service System Survey for WSCs was conducted in September 2025 and targeted chiefs working in the information management of 21 WSCs. There was a total of 23 areas because the survey was also sent to the City of Helsinki and HUS Group, the joint authority for Helsinki and Uusimaa. Respondents’ contact details were obtained from the organisations’ websites. An email containing a link to the survey was sent to the respondents. Non-respondents were reminded by email, phone call, or text message. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Based on the responses (N=21), the counties actively update their Information Security Plan. Subcontracting chains had been moderately take account in these plans in one third of the counties (n=8/21), and in about half of the counties they had been take account comprehensively or very comprehensively. Most counties (n=15/21) regularly prepare an information accountability report. Fewer than half of the counties (n=9/21) have, during the past three years, carried out non-statutory communication to residents about information security and data protection related to digital health services or the processing of client data. Information security and data protection form the foundation for building and delivering reliable and secure services for the population. Regular updating of the Information Security Plans enables to take new risks into account in time. The voluntary information accountability report has proved useful in drawing a situational picture of the counties. In the development of information security in WSCs, the focus should be shifted to strengthening resources, taking increasingly comprehensive account of subcontracting chains in organization's information security plans, and increasing communication with the inhabitants about information security related issues to build trust. The data collection carried out in this study and its follow-up will be important in the future, as up-to-date information enables informed decisions and improves overall management.
From register data to useful information: Framework for automating real-world evidence reporting
Real-world data (RWD) are increasingly used in scientific research. However, transforming such data into structured and reproducible scientific evidence remains challenging. We present an automated analytical framework for transforming real-world data into standardized and reproducible real-world evidence (RWE) research reports. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of data harmonization, automated statistical modeling, and report generation within a lightweight graphical user interface supported by a simple common data model. The framework standardizes key analytical components, including cohort construction, time-to-event modelling, and descriptive and summary reporting. As a proof of concept, the system is demonstrated using longitudinal data from OSTPRE cohort (Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Study). The implementation illustrates how an automated workflow can efficiently generate transparent and consistent RWE outputs suitable both for research and healthcare system evaluation. The framework is scalable to broader data ecosystems, such as regional hospital data repositories, enabling more detailed analyses and the production of robust real-world evidence. This approach supports more efficient utilization of real-world data in scientific and clinical decision-making.
Kohti yhteistä ymmärrystä: Tiedonmuodostuksen prosessit ja tiedolla johtaminen aikuissosiaalityössä (TIMO)
This project presentation introduces the TIMO research project (2026–2028), funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The project is carried out jointly by the University of Turku and the University of Eastern Finland. The multidisciplinary project examines the processes of knowledge formation and knowledge management in adult social work across different wellbeing services counties. More specifically, it investigates how social workers, supervisors, and managers, both individually and collectively, construct an understanding of the knowledge generated in client work, as well as how this knowledge is more broadly utilized in the development and management of social work practice. In adult social work, knowledge formation refers to the substantive and qualitative examination of information, the questioning of existing knowledge, and the production of new knowledge. In client work, key tools include observation, forms, assessment instruments, and documents recorded in information systems. This knowledge is used, for example, to understand a client’s situation and to support decision making regarding services. The TIMO project complements existing research on knowledge management and knowledge formation in social work.
Social network analysis in child protection information management research: A scoping review
Deficiencies in timely and sufficient information have been assessed as undermining the implementation of child welfare and exposing children to serious risks. Child welfare is therefore a critical area of information management, where gaps in information can lead to severe consequences. The child welfare mandate is carried out through multidisciplinary collaboration, which also involves the child’s kinship network. In practice, the production, sharing and use of information often occur within these networks. Social Network Analysis (SNA) offers tools for conceptualising and measuring the structures and dynamics of information management in multi-agency networks. This article examines how SNA has been applied in research on information management in child welfare. The study was conducted as a scoping literature review aimed at systematizing existing knowledge, identifying key research gaps, and assessing the potential of SNA for studying information management in child welfare. The findings reveal that the use of SNA in this context has so far been limited and primarily focused on inter-organizational collaboration. Based on the results, SNA offers promising opportunities for examining information management in child welfare, particularly in analysing the structure, functioning, and evolution of information‑exchange networks, as well as in identifying information‑management deficiencies related to multiagency collaboration. However, fully recognising the potential of SNA was constrained by the fact that in the studies included in the review, child welfare typically appeared as only one component within a broader network of actors, and information management was addressed merely as part of a wider research interest rather than as a primary focus of analysis. Future research would benefit in placing information management at the center and extending the analysis to internal organizational practices. SNA provides tools for comprehensive research on information management, but its effective application requires strong methodological expertise and careful research design. This analysis offers an overview of the current state of the research field and guides future studies toward a network-based understanding of information management in child welfare.
Lupauksellisista mielikuvastoista datatyön käytäntöjen mutkikkuuteen: Etnografinen tutkimus sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon dataistumisesta
This article presents a research project examining expectations directed toward data, and the practices of data production and use in healthcare and social welfare services. Theoretically, the study is grounded in science and technology studies and critical data studies. The datafication of health and social services is analysed primarily through the concepts of sociotechnical imaginaries, friction, data work, and gendered practices. The results show that 1) the strategies and action plans of health and social services are marked by unrealistic expectations regarding digitalisation and the capabilities of data driven systems; 2) in practice, even simple automation can create friction – that is, additional work – even when such systems function as intended; 3) data work in health and social services is gendered and therefore often remains invisible; and 4) the maintenance of data quality is hindered by organisational factors, unstable and incomplete information systems, lack of time and resources, and incorrect entries. The authors argue that, in order to understand datafication, it is essential to study how data driven technologies operate in practice and to develop concepts that enable the analysis of their functioning.
Sosiaalihuollon asiakastietovarannon käyttöönotto – pistemäisestä informaatio-ohjauksesta monitoimijaiseen dialogiin
Kanta-palveluiden ja tarkemmin sosiaalihuollon asiakastietovarannon käyttöönotto on ollut vuosia kestänyt ja erilaisia lakimuutoksia asiakastietolakiin (703/2023) edellyttänyt monivaiheinen hanke. Takaraja palveluiden käyttöönotolle on syyskuussa 2026. Yksityisiä palveluntuottajia on haastanut paitsi sosiaalihuollon palvelunjärjestäjien muuttuminen kunnista hyvinvointialueiksi myös lakimuutosten aiheuttama hallinnollinen lisätyö ja viranomaisten muuttuvat linjaukset ja täsmennykset. Yksityisten tuottajien tilannetta on pyritty tukemaan sosiaalialan osaamiskeskusten ja Hyvinvointiala Hali ry:n yhteistyöllä. Siinä on noussut selvästi esiin yksityisten palveluntuottajien haaste saada riittävästi tietoa ja tukea Kanta-liittymiseen. Kehittämistarpeeksi on noussut laajemman muutostietoisuuden aikaansaaminen palveluntuottajissa ja ostopalveluiden erityispiirteiden huomioon ottaminen Kanta-yhteistyössä.
Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon johtajien näkemykset tiedonhallinnan osaamisesta ja kehittämistarpeista hyvinvointialueiden toiminnan käynnistyessä
The purpose of this study was to examine social and health care managers’ views on information management competence, as well as their current and future information needs at the start of the Finnish wellbeing services counties’ operations. In addition, the study explored which factors support managers’ information management competence. The data (N = 226) were collected through an electronic survey in four wellbeing services counties in the summer of 2023, and the open-ended responses were analyzed using theory-driven content analysis based on Chun Wei Choo’s information management process model. The results were organized into main categories based on the process model, describing information needs, information acquisition, information utilization, information distribution, information organization and storage, information products and services, and the adaptation of operations. The results showed that the most significant development needs in information management were related to system interoperability, data fragmentation, data timeliness and varying documentation practices. Challenges concerning data accessibility and reliability, as well as shortcomings in the structures for data-driven management, were particularly evident. Managers identified comparative, quality and resource data as key information needs, particularly regarding their availability, and described requiring training, clear guidelines, technical support and sufficient time to process and utilize information. Factors supporting competence included easy-to-use and harmonized systems, functional guidelines, clear processes, and readily available support. Based on the findings, improving information management requires both technical and organizational solutions alongside the strengthening of managerial competence. The obligations of the Finnish Information Management Act regarding the clear definition of responsibilities, guidance and training appear essential for practical work. The novelty value of the study relates to its timing in the early phase of establishing the wellbeing services counties, when information management structures and practices were not yet fully established. The results provide up-to-date knowledge to support the development of information management competence, leadership practices and educational planning.
User experience research on social work information systems as a basis for digitalisation strategy goals
Digitalization is often portrayed as the solution to the challenges faced in social and health care services, expected to enable and renew operational and service processes. For professionals, the goals of digitalization strategies are typically framed in terms of reducing workload and improving effectiveness through better use of information and greater transparency. However, the realization of these strategic goals is challenged by professionals’ limited opportunities to participate in defining the goals, and by the fact that available research evidence does not appear to be fully reflected in technological solutions. Goal attainment is further constrained by the reality that current information systems remain technically and in terms of usability deficient in many respects and insufficiently aligned with the needs of social work. This article synthesizes and interprets key findings from user experience research on social work information systems to assess how this knowledge can be utilized in setting and implementing digitalization strategy goals. The previously identified challenges offer perspectives that, when considered, may support the realization of these strategic objectives.
Artificial intelligence in social work: A rapid review
Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently transforming work, education, and societal institutions, and its applications extend to social work as well. This study mapped the current state of research on AI and social work by conducting a rapid review across seven databases and analyzing 58 relevant scholarly articles. The review identifies how AI technologies are defined in social work research, the domains in which they are applied, and the documented consequences of AI use in social work. The findings indicate that international research on this topic is growing rapidly and is concentrated in North America. In social work research, AI is examined particularly in relation to education, while studies focusing on practice emphasise child protection. The reviewed literature covers numerous applications of AI in social work and describes potential benefits for the development of services, education, administration, and research, alongside recognised risks and ethical challenges. Although AI offers notable opportunities for social work, including more efficient processes, reduced workload and strengthened evidence‑based practice, it also entails significant risks for vulnerable populations. Algorithms may amplify existing data biases, reduce decision‑making transparency and narrow professional discretion, thereby increasing the risk of discrimination, inequality and privacy violations. The results indicate that the contextual complexity of social work resists overly simplistic technical solutions and requires thorough ethical assessment as well as critical scrutiny of data and AI models prior to implementation. Responsible use further demands clear guidelines, interdisciplinary collaboration and strong critical AI literacy among social workers. AI is most suitable for social work as a complementary tool that can create added value when its role and technical design are thoughtfully defined. The review underscores the need for interdisciplinary research that integrates ethical considerations and core social work values in the responsible adoption of AI.
artificial intelligence [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p2616]
social work [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p3286]
Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon tiedonhallinta systeemisenä kokonaisuutena
Potilaan tuottaman tiedon käyttö digitaalisissa terveyspalveluissa – epilepsiaa sairastavien henkilöiden kokemuksia
Digital health services enable patients to actively participate in monitoring their care and generating information related to symptoms, lifestyle, and well-being. Although international and national policies emphasize the importance of patient-generated health data (PGHD) in patient-centered care, previous research suggests that their integration into clinical decision-making remains unsystematic and often invisible from the patient’s perspective. This study aimed to describe how individuals with epilepsy experience the reception, integration and use of the PGHD they generate within their care process. The data were collected through three semi-structured focus group interviews (N = 8) conducted between December 2022 and March 2023. The transcribed material was analyzed using inductive content analysis, with particular focus on how PGHD are incorporated into the care process. The findings indicate that PGHD were used inconsistently. They supported self-management and interaction during clinical consultations, whereas their connection to treatment decisions often remained unclear. When the data were acknowledged, participants reported a stronger sense of involvement. However, when previously recorded data were not revisited or did not inform decision-making, the significance of producing such data became uncertain from the patient’s perspective. Participants also described interruptions in information transfer between units and systems, as well as practices in which PGHD were not systematically addressed. The results highlight the need to develop practices that make the reception and integration of PGHD more transparent and consistent within clinical decision-making.
The role of digital mentoring in developing digital competence among social and health care professionals
Digitalization and technology are central means for the development of public services. Finland’s Government Programme emphasizes strengthening the digital competencies of social and health care professionals, as this contributes to improved service quality, safety, and accessibility. The purpose of this article is to describe the significance of a digital mentoring model in supporting the digital competence of social and health care professionals. The aim is to increase understanding of digital mentoring and its different models and to promote the nationwide implementation of digital mentors in workplaces. The data were collected during a DigiNet network workshop held in 2025, where participants examined digital mentoring models currently in use across wellbeing services counties and documented their observations on a shared digital platform. The data were further complemented with relevant literature and publicly available descriptions of other digital mentoring practices. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods. During the workshop, digital mentoring models from four wellbeing services counties were presented. In addition, the article describes other digital mentoring models identified through various sources. Workshop participants recorded their views on digital mentoring using the Padlet platform, and DigiNet’s coordination group analyzed the data. The results were structured into five thematic areas: organization and structures of the activity, roles and responsibilities, motivation and recognition of competence, sense of community and peer learning, as well as challenges and development needs. Key prerequisites for the successful implementation of a digital mentoring model included clear organizational structures, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and recognition of digital mentors' motivation and expertise. Furthermore, community-building and peer learning were found to support both the adoption of new technologies and the development of mentoring and facilitation skills. Based on the findings, implementing and scaling digital mentoring models requires both national and regional collaboration. Cooperation between working life organizations and educational institutions is essential for the development and maintenance of digital competence. Leadership in digital competence development is a key organizational responsibility. It supports the capacity of work communities to respond to changing service needs.
Sähköinen tiedonhallinta - heiluttaako häntä koiraa?
Copyright (c) 2014 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare
New methods in developing social and health care services
Electronic patient record – promises to be redeemed
Sähköinen potilaskertomus – lupauksia lunastettavana
The Purola model and the Holistic Concept of Man metaphor as bases for the networked view of decision-making in eHealth and eWelfare
The essence of the essay is to outline two models or metaphors of different philosophic and practical origins, with the aim of recombining the two to encompass some relevant aspects of modern information systems contexts in eHealth and eWelfare. The Purola model and the Holistic Concept of Man refer to the same real world phenomena but with different ontological and epistemological views. However, many further applications in areas of education, rehabilitation, accounting research, computerized decision support, sociomedical and information systems research remain yet to be contrived. Deeper analyzes of decision making environments of networked systemic wholes in eHealth and eWelfare are needed, both on micro and macro levels. Researchers and practicioners should strive for a balance between ethical demands of individual biopsychosociality and confrontations of technological and economic efficiency, also with macro scale cooperative options in mind.
Ikääntyvien näkemyksiä tieto‐ ja viestintätekniikan käytöstä tulevaisuuden hyvinvointipalveluissa
Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvata 55–75-vuotiaiden yläsavolaisten näkemyksiä tieto- ja viestintätekniikan käytöstä hyvinvointipalveluissa. Aineisto koottiin teemahaastatteluilla 64 henkilöltä vuoden 2006 aikana. Ikääntyvien yleisin viestintälaite oli matkapuhelin, mutta lähes yhtä yleisesti kodin tekniikkaan kuului tietokone verkkoyhteyksineen. Kuitenkin lähes puolet haastatelluista ei osannut tai halunnut käyttää tietotekniikkaa hyvinvointipalveluissa. Tieto- ja viestintätekniikkaa haluttiin käyttää tulevaisuudessa tiedonhakuun, asiointiin ja kaupankäyntiin, sosiaali- ja terveyspalveluissa ohjauksen ja tiedon saantiin, selviytymistä tukemaan sekä yhteydenpitoon läheisten ja viranomaisten kanssa. Haastateltavat toivat esille tarpeensa ohjaukseen ja koulutukseen. Koulutuksen toivottiin olevan ikääntyville suunnattua ja innostavaa, mikä auttaisi ikääntyvää oppimaan. Tutkimustulokset ovat tarpeellisia suunniteltaessa uudenlaisia ikääntyville suunnattuja hyvinvointipalveluja.
Terveystietojen käytön hallinta suostumukseen perustuen ‐ tarpeellinen perusoikeus vai hyvän hoidon este? Vastaan: Suostumuksen hallinnan toteutuksemme on hyvän hoidon este
Terveystietojen käytön hallinta suostumukseen perustuen ‐ tarpeellinen perusoikeus vai hyvän hoidon este? Puolesta: Suostumukseen hallinnan toteutuksemme on kansalaisen perusoikeuden mukainen
Teleterveydenhuoltoa kansallisesti ja kansainvälisesti - ‐ yhteenveto XIV kansallisesta telelääketieteen ja eHealth‐seminaarista
Viestinnän infran kehittäminen elvytyspakettiin
Sosiaali‐ ja terveysalan huippuosaamisen keskittymä
Kattava kansalaisen terveystiedon portaali TerveSuomi avautunut