Malene Nerbøvik Stavdal

Norwegian version of this page Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care Norwegian version of this page

Position

Assistant Professor in Nursing

Contact

+47 71195842

40223099

malene.n.stavdal@himolde.no

Study place

Molde

Office nr.

B208

Malene Nerbøvik Stavdal is an associate professor in the bachelor’s program in nursing. She completed her nursing studies in 2015 and has a Master of Science in midwifery (2018). Stavdal defended her PhD thesis in 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo. The thesis was titled: “Healthcare personnel’s health literacy sensitivity in relation to work-related factors and mental well-being – a multiple methods approach.” The project examines how healthcare professionals' sensitivity to patients’ health literacy needs is connected to work-related factors and mental health.

Stavdal is primarily affiliated with the bachelor’s program in nursing; she also teaches in several other health-related study programs, including the master’s program in public health nursing, the master’s program in advanced clinical general nursing, and bachelor’s programs in paramedicine and vernepleie. Stavdal has several years of experience as an Assistant Professor in the bachelor’s programs in nursing and vernepleie at Lovisenberg Diaconal University College and OsloMet.

Central teaching areas include women’s health, work psychology, communication and shared decision-making, academic writing, and the scientific method. Central research areas are particularly focused on health literacy, work psychology, and mental health. She has also researched topics related to parenthood and sexuality. Her research uses multiple methodological approaches.

Stavdal has up-to-date clinical experience from the maternity and postnatal department at Nordmøre and Romsdal Hospital. Previously, she has worked at the maternity department at Rikshospitalet and in the emergency department at Diakonhjemmet Hospital.

Research groups:

HELINOR- Network for research on health literacy

Self-Management (SELMA) at the University of Oslo

Collaboration on children and youth (SamBU)

ORCID

Research groups

Borge, Christine Råheim; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Andersen, Marit Helen; Stavdal, Malene & Hermansen, Åsmund (2026). Validation of the Health Literacy Competencies (IOHLC) instrument in Norwegian interdisciplinary health care professionals in specialist health care service. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice. 45. doi: 10.1016/j.xjep.2026.100838. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Background Few instruments exist to capture interdisciplinary healthcare professionals' (HCPs) health literacy (HL) sensitivity, such as knowledge, skills, and attentive attitudes, to pursue HL when communicating with patients and their caregivers effectively. Objective This study aims to report on the psychometric properties of The Instrument of Health Literacy Competencies (IOHLC) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures on data from a sample of HCPs working in specialist healthcare services in Norway. Methods The nine scales of the original Chinese IOHLC were translated and adapted from English into Norwegian using a forward-backward translation procedure and cognitive interviews. For the psychometric evaluation, a cross-sectional survey of 288 HCPs was conducted in a medium-sized hospital in Norway from July 2022 to September 2022. The statistical analysis included correlation analysis (Persons R), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and CFA. Results The cognitive interviews led to changes in wording and the inclusion of an additional item in the survey. Nine one-factor models resulted in an acceptable fit (i.e., >0.6), comprising 36of the 40 items in the original version. Four items were excluded due to a low loading. In the final version, comprising 36 items, the alpha for internal consistency was 0.7 and above. Conclusions The CFA analysis yielded 36 items from the original IOHLC with an acceptable model fit. Further studies on the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version in other settings and with a larger sample are needed.
Borge, Christine Råheim; Eik, Hedda; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Bragstad, Line Kildal; Sylwander, Charlotte & Hjorthaug, Kristin [Show all 26 contributors for this article] (2026). Health literacy research in primary healthcare services – A scoping review. Patient Education and Counseling. ISSN 0738-3991. 149, p. 109675–109675. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109675. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Objective To systematically map existing evidence on health literacy among people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in primary healthcare. Methods An interdisciplinary research group conducted a scoping review following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, refined by Levac and Peters, and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. The review was registered in OSF and applied the Population–Concept–Context framework to define inclusion criteria. Searches were conducted in Medline, APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and Cochrane for studies published between 2000–2025. Peer-reviewed studies were screened in Rayyan, and data were charted and thematically analyzed through team-based consensus. Results The search identified 7952 studies, of which 106 studies met the inclusion criteria. Participants’ mean age was 59 years; 56% were female. Studies originated from 29 countries, mainly the USA, China, and Canada, with an increase after 2013. Three main themes were identified: (1) health literacy, social status, and ethnicity, (2) health literacy, disease, and health outcomes, and (3) health literacy, NCD knowledge, and self-management. Many studies reported associations between health literacy, and self-management, quality of life, and some clinical outcomes, but findings across designs and outcomes were heterogeneous and not consistently positive. Conclusions Improved communication, greater cultural competence, and tailored health literacy interventions are associated with better self-management and disease outcomes in non-communicable diseases, but most evidence is associative rather than causal, intervention effects are mixed, and research on health literacy experiences remains limited. Practice Implications More rigorously designed intervention studies and broader conceptualization and measurement of health literacy with multidimensional instruments are needed to strengthen the evidence and clarify how health literacy relates to social status, disease outcomes, and self-management in primary healthcare. Training healthcare professionals to assess and address health literacy is essential to promote equity and effective patient engagement.
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Sjetne, Ingeborg Strømseng; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Gay, Caryl & Kjetland, Monica Bukkøy [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). A health literacy intervention for registered nurses: Development and feasibility testing. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances (IJNS Advances). 10, p. 1–14. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2026.100503. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Background: Health literacy is essential for improving long-term health outcomes, enhancing quality of care, and ensuring patient safety in healthcare systems. Thus, supporting registered nurses in applying health literacy in practice is essential. While health literacy research is expanding, limited attention has been paid to how healthcare personnel develop health literacy sensitivity (i.e., knowledge, skills, and attitudes healthcare personnel require to effectively meet patients’ health literacy needs). Objective (1) Develop and assess the feasibility of a health literacy intervention for registered nurses working in a general hospital setting. (2) Explore potential changes in health literacy sensitivity, work-related factors, and mental well-being for registered nurses, following the intervention. (3) Evaluate registered nurses’ experiences with implementing the intervention. Design: Pre-post feasibility study employing qualitative and quantitative approaches. Setting: Medical ward, general hospital. Participants: N=32 registered nurses. Methods: An advisory panel, Magnet4Europe’s gap-analysis tool, and prior research were used to design the intervention. Health literacy sensitivity was measured using the Instrument of Health Literacy Competencies. Work-related factors and mental well-being were measured using four validated surveys. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive, non-parametric statistics. Registered nurses’ experiences with implementing the intervention were assessed through individual and group interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The final intervention included a dedicated health literacy nurse trained to motivate and guide colleagues in improving patients’ health literacy. During a 6-month intervention period, registered nurses participated in internal health literacy education, project groups, morning briefings, and reflection groups. The intervention targeted all registered nurses (N = 32) working on a medical ward (i.e., cardiovascular, stroke, and geriatric conditions). The pre-post study showed statistically-significant improvements in 7 of the 9 domains measuring registered nurses’ health literacy sensitivity (pre n = 29, post n = 20). Additionally, teamwork scores between registered nurses and physicians showed a statistically-significant improvement. Qualitative (n = 9) analyses of registered nurses’ experiences of the intervention revealed three main themes: (1) “Strengthening health literacy through increased resources, embedded routines, and interdisciplinary collaboration,” (2) “Between support and strain: health literacy sensitivity as a professional challenge,” and (3) “Registered nurses’ increased awareness and understanding of health literacy sensitivity”. Conclusion: Post-intervention measures demonstrated a significant increase in registered nurses’ health literacy sensitivity through structured routines, interdisciplinary collaboration, access to resources, and support from a designated health literacy nurse. However, health literacy sensitivity remained a balance between rewarding engagement and burdensome responsibility.
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik; Hermansen, Åsmund; Sjetne, Ingeborg Strømseng; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad & Kohnen, Dorothea [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Associations Between Work-Related Factors, Mental Well-Being, and Health Literacy Sensitivity: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Healthcare Personnel. Journal of Healthcare Leadership. 17, p. 383–394. doi: 10.2147/JHL.S533694. Full text in Research Archive
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Sjetne, Ingeborg Strømseng; Lerdal, Anners & Gay, Caryl [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Healthcare Personnel Experiences With Health Literacy Sensitivity in Relation to Work Satisfaction and Stress: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 18, p. 1269–1280. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S493548. Full text in Research Archive
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik; Skjævestad, Marie Louise Løvland & Dahl, Bente (2019). First-time parents’ experiences of proximity and intimacy after childbirth – A qualitative study. Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. ISSN 1877-5756. 20, p. 66–71. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2019.03.003. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Objective:To explorefirst-time parents’experiences of proximity and intimacy after childbirth.Methods:This was a qualitative study. Individual interviews with a sample of six women and six men wereconducted in December 2017. The data were analysed using systematic text condensation.Results:In thefirst theme, the parents described that their mutual attraction was affected by the female bodychanges during pregnancy and childbirth. The second theme described how the baby represented a new focus,resulting in a form of intimacy that was more sensual than sexual. The third theme described how pain, fear andnew priorities changed couples’intimacy, making their sex life a challenge.Conclusion:First-time parents had varied experiences of proximity and intimacy after the birth. When they choseto prioritize each other, attraction increased, strengthening their relationship and even when busy, those whowanted to be intimate with their partner found sufficient time. During this process, there was sometimes animbalance between the partners’sexual needs. Intimacy was then challenged, but not necessarily weakened.New parents need information and guidance on changes that may affect proximity and intimacy in their re-lationship after childbirth, but receive very little information

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Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik (2026). Helsekompetanseintervensjon for sykepleiere. doi: https:/www.kompetansebroen.no/samhandling/abstract-38-helsekompetanseintervensjon-for-sykepleiere. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Hvordan tilrettelegge og støtte sykepleiere i arbeidet med pasienters helsekompetanse, uten å øke egen arbeidsbelastning? En ny studie fra Lovisenberg Diakonale Sykehus undersøker hvordan en målrettet intervensjon kan styrke både helsekompetanse‑oppfølgingen og sykepleiernes arbeidsmiljø og mentale helse.
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik (2022). Work-related factors and health literacy promotion by RNs –The WoFact Healthlit Study. Full text in Research Archive
Stavdal, Malene Nerbøvik; Borge, Christine Råheim; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Sjetne, Ingeborg Strømseng & Wahl, Astrid Klopstad (2026). Healthcare personnel’s health literacy sensitivity in relation to work-related factors and mental well-being - a multiple methods approach. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788234808616. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
In this thesis, healthcare personnel’s well-being and mental health were researched in combination with health literacy sensitivity in clinical practice. Health literacy sensitivity is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to effectively meet patients’ health literacy needs (health literacy: how individuals access, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health). Health literacy-sensitive care plays a critical role in patients’ long-term health outcomes, care quality, and patient safety. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore experiences and potential associations among healthcare personnel’s health literacy sensitivity, work-related factors, and mental well-being in a general hospital setting, and to use this knowledge to develop and evaluate a health literacy intervention. A multi-method sequential design was applied. Paper 1 used focus group interviews with interdisciplinary healthcare personnel, analyzed using thematic analysis. Paper 2 was a cross-sectional study (n=288) examining associations, analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. Paper 3 was a pre–post feasibility study, using quantitative measures and qualitative interviews to evaluate a six-month health literacy intervention for registered nurses. Findings show that higher health literacy sensitivity is associated with better teamwork, higher work engagement, and fewer mental health challenges, and the intervention resulted in statistically significant improvements in 7 of 9 domains of health literacy sensitivity and improved nurse–physician collaboration. Qualitative findings highlighted increased awareness, strengthened routines, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, but also identified health literacy responsibilities as potentially demanding. In conclusion, health literacy sensitivity is closely linked to both organizational conditions and healthcare personnel’s mental well-being. While it can be experienced as demanding, it can be strengthened through structured interventions, improved teamwork, and integration into everyday clinical practice.

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Published Mar. 16, 2026 7:46 AM - Last modified Oct. 13, 2026 12:18 PM