Faculty of Health Sciences , Department of Nursing and Health Promotion

Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with almost 22,000 students and over 2,500 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.

The Faculty of Health Sciences consists of five departments and offers study programmes on all levels, including PhD. The faculty has about 6000 students and nearly 600 members of staff.

Department of Nursing and Health Promotion is located at all three campus: Kjeller, Pilestredet and Sandvika. The department has approximately 3000 students and 250 employees.

The Faculty of Health Sciences has a vacancy for a research fellow in the field of health literacy. The position is affiliated to the research group Quality of Life and the PhD programme in Health Sciences. Start-up by agreement, but the start date should ideally be in autumn 2021. The nominal length of the research fellowship period is three years from the start date.

Field of research

The authorities’ goal is to ensure equitable access to health services – the patient’s health services. To achieve this objective, the health services must accommodate and provide health communication adapted to patients and users with different levels of health literacy. Health literacy is about people’s skills, knowledge and motivation to access, understand, assess and use health information to make sensible decisions relating to their own health. It is about being able to determine whether one is in need of health services, know how to prevent illness and what health promotion measures will maintain or improve one's quality of life in a lifetime perspective.

Researchers at OsloMet, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences and the University of Oslo have, in cooperation with the Norwegian Directorate of Health, obtained questionnaire survey data about the population’s health literacy. This study (HLS19) is part of an international collaboration in which the Faculty of Health Sciences leads the research conducted in Norway. The preliminary results have been published in the report Befolkningens helsekompetanse – del 1 (‘The Population’s Health Literacy – Part 1’ – in Norwegian only)

The report shows that a significant proportion of the Norwegian population has difficulties navigating the health services, for example finding out what the rights of users of health services are, understanding information about ongoing healthcare reforms, and understanding information about how the health services are organised and function. Part of the population has poor digital health literacy, which means that they have poor skills when it comes to using search tools, applying search strategies, critically assessing sources and choosing relevant digital health information. Their ability to use digital health services is also an issue.

The person appointed will primarily work on analysing questionnaire data about the health literacy of people with long-term conditions. These are persons who suffer from a condition or health problems that have lasted, or are expected to last, for at least six months. The position will place a particular emphasis on analysing this complex group’s digital skills and skills in navigating the health services. It will be possible to combine quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for candidates who have

  • a master’s degree (120 credits/ECTS) or equivalent formal education in health, natural or social sciences
  • experience of quantitative methods and knowledge of international large-scale surveys
  • good oral and written presentation skills in a Scandinavian language and English

Conditions.

Admission to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences is a precondition for taking up the position. In order to be admitted to the PhD programmes at the Faculty, the applicant must have achieved the grade B or better on their master’s degree/second degree thesis and an average grade equivalent to a B or better on their master’s degree thesis. In special cases, applicants with the grade C may be considered for admission. See further information about criteria here: https://ansatt.oslomet.no/opptak-phd-program-hv

In the assessment and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:

  • the scientific quality, originality and potential of the submitted project outline
  • whether the project can be completed within the time available
  • motivation

Desirable qualifications

  • experience of analysing questionnaire data from large-scale surveys by means of Rasch models, regression/multi-level analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM)
  • experience of research activities and participation in research projects
  • scholarly publications

Personal qualities that are necessary

  • the ability to work independently, systematically and purposefully
  • academic insight, enthusiasm and good implementation capacity
  • resourcefulness and creativity
  • good collaboration and communication skills

It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to make adaptations to the workplace if required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have had periods where you have not been in employment, education or training.

We offer

  • opportunities for academic development in a large and inspiring specialist and research environment
  • participation in an active research group with regular meetings/seminars and an extensive national and international network
  • a good working environment, flexible working hours and good employee welfare arrangements.
  • exciting work opportunities at Norway’s third biggest and most urban university
  • good pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The salary for the position is in accordance with the Basic Collective Agreement for state employees and OsloMet’s pay policy for position code 1017 (research fellow), pay grade 54, i.e. an initial annual salary of NOK 482,200.

Expert assessment and application process

If you wish to apply for the position, please apply electronically via our electronic recruitment system – see ‘log in and apply’.

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. Before the application documents are forwarded to the expert committee, the applications will be reviewed by the faculty. Only qualified applicants will be considered for the position. Please upload the following documents together with your application by the final date for applications:

  • an application letter which states your reasons for applying and what makes you particularly qualified to carry out this PhD work
  • CV and copies of diplomas and references
  • education taken abroad should be recognised in advance, and the letter of recognition must be enclosed. Information can be found here: https://www.nokut.no/en/about-nokut/international-cooperation/diploma-supplement/
  • list of publications
  • master’s/second degree thesis and up to 10 scholarly works
  • project outline (up to five pages in Times New Roman 12-point font and 9-point font for the reference list). The project outline must show that the project will lead to a PhD degree within a three years. The project outline must be written in a Scandinavian language or English, and contain the following: 1) Introduction and delimitation of topic 2) Knowledge status and framework: (description of previous research and an account of the topics persons with long-term conditions, health literacy, navigating the health services, digital health literacy, and their potential correlation); 3) proposals for research issues/questions and relevant research methods; 4) proposals for publication titles 5) any implications and 6) a list of references
  • references with contact information.

All documents must be uploaded for your application to be considered. The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be government authorised. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet checks documents in order to give candidates a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Other information

For more information about the position, please contact:

  • Professor Kjell Sverre Pettersen, email: spetters@oslomet.no, tel.: (+47) 92047867
  • Professor Sølvi Helseth, email: solvi@oslomet.no, tel.: (+47) 90020278
  • Associate Professor Øystein Guttersrud, email: oysteg@fys.uio.no
  • For questions of an administrative nature, contact: turi@oslomet.no
  • For questions concerning admission to the PhD programme, please contact phd-hv@oslomet.no

Final date for applications: 23.05.21
Ref: 21/03903

Type of employment Temporary position (shorter than 10 days)
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Autumn 2021
Salary pay grade 54, i.e. an initial annual salary of NOK 482,200.
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Oslo
County Oslo
Country Norway
Reference number 21/03903
Contact
  • Kjell Sverre Pettersen, +47 92047867
  • Sølvi Helseth, +47 90020278
  • Øystein Guttersrud, oysteg@fys.uio.no
Published 16.Apr.2021
Last application date 23.May.2021 11:59 PM CEST

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