Healthcare Ethics Research Group

The Main Research Focus:

• Assessment and development of ethical competence among nurses and nursing students. 
• Promotion of ethical nursing care and patient rights in various healthcare contexts. 
• Identification, analysis, and prevention of ethical issues in nursing. 
• Assessment and reduction of moral distress among healthcare professionals.

Educational development activities: development of ethics teaching in nursing curriculum to support the ethical competence of nursing students. 

Recognitions:

• Special award from the Ministry of Social Affairs in the National Student Research Competition for Gerli Usberg’s thesis “Nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study.” (2019)

• Recognition from the Estonian Nurses Union for Gerli Usberg’s master’s thesis “Nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts – a qualitative study” (2020).

• Poster presentation highlighted by the jury at the Faculty of Medicine Anniversary Conference: “Ethical issues faced by nurses in Estonia and Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 
  Authors: Gerli Usberg, Ruth Kalda, Alessio Conti, Mariliis Põld, Marco Clari, Mari Kangasniemi (2023)

Publications

• Ojaste, C., Mõts, G., Medijainen, K. (2024). Burnout among female physiotherapists working in Estonian healthcare: a cross/sectional survey. Rehabilitacja Medyczna, 28 (3), 35−41. DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0055.0073. 

• Usberg, G., Clari, M., Conti, A., Põld, M., Kalda, R., Kangasniemi, M. (2024). Changes in nurses’ work: A comparative study during the waves of COVID‐19 pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 30 (4), e13250. DOI: 10.1111/ijn.13250. 

• Usberg, G., Clari, M., Conti, A., Põld, M., Kalda, R., Kangasniemi, M. (2024). COVID-19 and nurses’ ethical issues: Comparisons between two European countries. Nursing Ethics, 31 (8), 1674− 1887. DOI: 10.1177/09697330241255936.  

• Usberg, G., Kalda, R., Conti, A., Põld, M., Clari, M., Kangasniemi, M. (2023). Ethical issues faced by nurses in Estonia and Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eesti Arst, 102; Supplement 1.

• Usberg, G., Kalda, R., Põld, M., Kangasniemi, M., Clari, M., Conti, A. (2023). Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses’ work in Estonia. Eesti Õde, 17.07.2023.

• Ojaste, C., Usberg, G. (2022). Burnout among physiotherapists in healthcare and social care. Liikumine ja sport, 23: Teadus, sport, meditsiin XI. Tartu: Menu Meedia, 21. 

• Usberg, G., Uibu, E., Urban, R., Kangasniemi, M. (2020). Ethical conflicts in nursing: An interview study. Nursing Ethics, 1−12. DOI: 10.1177/0969733020945751. 

• Usberg, G., Urban, R., Uibu, E. (2019). Nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study. Eesti Arst, 98 (Supplement 3).

• Usberg, G.; Urban, R.; Uibu, E. (2019). Ethical conflicts, experiences, and coping – nurses’ everyday work. Eesti Õde, 3/4, 25-27.

• Usberg, G. (2019). Estonian nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts. Meditsiiniuudised, 13, 4−4, 21.08.2019. 

• Usberg, G. (2018). Ethical conflict – an integral part of nursing work. Eesti Õde, 3, 16-19. 

Conferences and Science Popularization

2025 

• Mõts, G., Clari, M., Kalda, R. Põld, M., Conti, A., Kangasniemi, M. Contextual aspects of ethical issues in nursing: Estonian perspective (oral presentation) 25. International Nursing Ethics Conference “The value of nursing ethics research and scholarship” (University of Turku, Journal of Nursing Ethics). (Turu, Journal of Nursing Ethics, University of Turku). 

• Mõts, G; Uibu, E; Urban, R; Kangasniemi, M. Ethical conflicts in nursing: Perspective of Estonian nurses (oral presentation) ІІІ Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation “Current Trends of Laboratory Diagnostics, Nursing, Rehabilitation and Public Health” (Medical Institute of Zhytomyr, Medical Institute of Zhytomyr). 

2024  

• Usberg, G., Kalda, R., Conti, A., Põld, M., Clari, M., Kangasniemi, M. Ethical challenges during different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: Estonian nurses’ perspective (oral presentation) journal Nursing Ethics 24. conference “Ethics, Care & the Workforce ‘Crisis’: International, Interprofessional & Interdisciplinary Perspectives.” (Brunel University, Journal of Nursing Ethics and Brunel University). 

2023  

• Usberg, G., Kalda, R., Conti, A., Põld, M., Clari, M., Kangasniemi, M. (2023). Ethical issues faced by nurses in Estonia and Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty of Medicine Anniversary Conference, University of Tartu (12.10.2023). 

• Usberg, G. Changes in nurses’ work and nursing activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conference KLIINIK 2023. University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine (01.02.2023). 

• Ethical conflict – from mild irritation to deep wound (oral presentation). Collaboration Conference MEIE 100. Eesti Õdede Liit et al. 10.05.2023, Tallinn. 

• Changes in Nurses’ Work and Nursing Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic 
  Oral presentation. Conference: KLIINIK 2023. University of Tartu, Institute of Clinical Medicine (Tartu, 01.02.2023). 

2021  

• Impact of COVID-19 on nursing care (oral presentation), 5-Star Nursing Conference “Bad times, good nurses”. North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn Health Care College, (10.11.2021, Tallinn). 

• Usberg, G., Kangasniemi M. (2021) “The impact of COVID-19 emergency on nursing care in Estonia: clinical, ethical and educational issues” (oral presentation). Estonian Nursing Leaders Association Scientific Conference “Creating a comprehensive view on nursing leadership” (22.04.2021) https://www.estnda2021.ee/userfiles/estnda2021/EstNDA%20abstract%20book_.pdf. 

2019  

• Usberg, G.; Urban, R.; Uibu, E. Nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study – Health Sector Research Info Day, Ministry of Social Affairs (Tallinn, 12.12.2019). 

• Usberg, G.; Urban, R.; Uibu, E. Nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study – Faculty of Medicine Anniversary Conference, University of Tartu 

• Usberg, G.; Urban, R.; Uibu, E. Nurses´ experiences with ethical conflicts: qualitative research (suuline ettekanne). In: Nordic-Baltic Network of Philosophy of Medicine Annual Workshop, Issues in Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine (Tartu, 11.06.2019). 

Student Thesis Related to the Research Group

2025  

• Gerli Mõts, (juh) Mari Katariina Kangasniemi; Ruth Kalda, Ethical issues in nursing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-method study (Eetilised probleemid õenduses enne COVID-19 pandeemiat ja pandeemia ajal: mitmemeetodiline uuring), Tartu Ülikool, Meditsiiniteaduste valdkond, peremeditsiini ja rahvatervishoiu instituut (doctoral thesis)

2024 

• Evelin Trusova – Estonian family nurses’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study, master’s thesis, University of Tartu, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health 
  Supervisors: Merle Seera-Erstu, Gerli Mõts  

2022 

• Christi Ojaste – Burnout among physiotherapists working in healthcare and social care: a self-assessment-based survey study, master’s thesis, University of Tartu, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health. Supervisor Gerli Mõts. 

2021 

• Kerli Hiiemäe – Parents’ experiences, expectations, and needs regarding support during bereavement in pediatric intensive care units: a qualitative study, master’s thesis, University of Tartu, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health. Supervisors: Jekaterina Šteinmiller, Gerli Mõts, Mari-Liis Ilmoja.  

Supervising Master Theses:

• Liisi Põldots – Ensuring dignified end-of-life care in adult intensive care units, Master’s program in Health Sciences, Tartu Health Care College 

• Kätlin Polli – Burnout among Estonian family nurses, Master’s program in Health Sciences, Tartu Health Care College 

• Kadi Timma – Information needs of adult cancer patients in Estonia, master’s program in Health Sciences, Tartu Health Care College 

• Liis Lang – Nurses’ experiences in respecting patient autonomy in hospice care and related ethical issues: a qualitative study, master’s program in Nursing Science, University of Tartu 

• Anni Lillepuu – Nurses’ assessments of the ethical climate in Estonian hospitals, master’s program in Nursing Science, University of Tartu 

• Laura Meremaa – Nursing managers’ experiences with ethical conflicts: a qualitative study among nursing managers in Estonian regional and central hospitals, master’s program in Nursing Science, University of Tartu 

• Karolina Revotko – Dehumanization of patients in Estonian hospitals: a qualitative study from nurses’ perspective, master’s program in Nursing Science, University of Tartu 

Contact: Gerli Mõts, gerli.mots@tartuh.ee