| Creators: |
Riegel, Valentina and Kunz, Jennifer and Pfannstiel, Mario A. and Keppeler, Lena |
| Title: |
Shaping Healthcare Practice Through International Collaboration and Employee-Centered Development |
| Item Type: |
Conference or Workshop Item |
| Event Title: |
(Proceedings of the) 18th Nordic Conference on International Education and Collaborative Practice, Nordic Network for Interprofessional Education (NIPNET) |
| Event Location: |
Tromsø, Norway |
| Event Dates: |
June, 4-5, 2026 |
| Date: |
2026 |
| Divisions: |
Gesundheitsmanagement |
| Abstract (ENG): |
Background Given rising care demands and declining staffing ratios due to demographic changes, efficiently
allocating limited resources while ensuring high-quality care is paramount in healthcare. Literature
emphasizes the pivotal role of intrinsic motivation in staff performance and highlights the need for further
research on work environments and motivational dynamics. Human-centered-design (HCD) focusing on
employee experience (EX) draws on promoting motivation and engagement by addressing employees'
needs. However, current literature on HCD in healthcare predominantly focuses on patient-centered care but
needs to be further enriched with an employee-centered perspective.
Aim We present insights from a mixed-methods study of an international HCD program between Augsburg
University Hospital, Region Stockholm and the Karolinska Institutet. We aim to emphasize the impact of
participation on staff´s intrinsic motivation and provide insights on designing a motivational work
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NIPNET 2026 | Tromsø, Norway | 4–5 June 2026
Abstract Book
environment. In doing so, we seek to propose an approach supporting organizational development in
hospitals.
Methods The program covered language preparation, research questions, study visits and workshops in
Stockholm, and a final presentation. We conducted a document analysis of the presentations to identify key
phenomena, using Grounded Theory methodology. We performed interviews to explore the impact on
participants´ intrinsic motivation based on the Self-Determination Theory using the Gioia and Mayring
approach. To specify findings´ relevance, we performed an interprofessional focus group applying a
phenomenological analysis methodology.
Results Highly differentiated work environments between Germany and Sweden were identified. The results
suggest that structure, organization, and interprofessional collaboration substantially shape the EX. In
particular, clarity of roles and responsibilities and interprofessional communication are key drivers of
participants’ intrinsic motivation. Participation fostered increased intrinsic motivation and proactive
engagement in organizational development.
Conclusions/Implications Our study highlights the potential of employee-centered development in healthcare
settings. By integrating international and interprofessional perspectives, HCD focusing on the EX can be a
sustainable strategy for shaping the future of healthcare. |
| Forthcoming: |
No |
| Language: |
English |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
human-centered-design, employee experience, intrinsic motivation, international collaboration,
interprofessional perspectives |
| Citation: |
Riegel, Valentina and Kunz, Jennifer and Pfannstiel, Mario A. and Keppeler, Lena
(2026)
Shaping Healthcare Practice Through International Collaboration and Employee-Centered Development.
In: (Proceedings of the) 18th Nordic Conference on International Education and Collaborative Practice, Nordic Network for Interprofessional Education (NIPNET), June, 4-5, 2026, Tromsø, Norway.
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