{"id":6400,"date":"2026-10-19T09:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-heilbrigdisvisindum-sonja-stelly-gustafsdottir\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:52","slug":"doktorsvorn-i-heilbrigdisvisindum-sonja-stelly-gustafsdottir","status":"publish","type":"phd_defence","link":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/en\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-heilbrigdisvisindum-sonja-stelly-gustafsdottir\/","title":{"rendered":"Doktorsv\u00f6rn \u00ed heilbrig\u00f0isv\u00edsindum – Sonja Stelly G\u00fastafsd\u00f3ttir"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mi\u00f0vikudaginn 7. ma\u00ed 2025 ver Sonja Stelly G\u00fastafsd\u00f3ttir doktorsritger\u00f0 s\u00edna \u00ed heilbrig\u00f0isv\u00edsindum vi\u00f0 L\u00e6knadeild H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands. Ritger\u00f0in ber heiti\u00f0: Heilsul\u00e6si og eldri \u00cdslendingar b\u00fasettir \u00ed heimah\u00fasi: \u00de\u00e1ttt\u00f6kubundin s\u00fdn \u00e1 getu einstaklinga og m\u00f6guleika \u00ed umhverfinu. Health Literacy and Older Community-dwelling Icelanders: A Participatory Perspective on Individual Abilities and Environmental Options.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andm\u00e6lendur eru dr. Ilona Kickbusch, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies \u00ed Genf, og dr. Harpa Sif Eyj\u00f3lfsd\u00f3ttir, n\u00fddoktor vi\u00f0 mi\u00f0st\u00f6\u00f0 \u00ed l\u00fd\u00f0heilsuv\u00edsindum, H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands.<\/p>\n

Umsj\u00f3narkennari og lei\u00f0beinandi var dr. S\u00f3lveig \u00c1sa \u00c1rnad\u00f3ttir, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 N\u00e1msbraut \u00ed sj\u00fakra\u00fej\u00e1lfun vi\u00f0 L\u00e6knadeild, og me\u00f0lei\u00f0beinandi var dr. \u00c1r\u00fan Krist\u00edn Sigur\u00f0ard\u00f3ttir, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 Heilbrig\u00f0is- vi\u00f0skipta- og raunv\u00edsindasvi\u00f0 H\u00e1sk\u00f3lans \u00e1 Akureyri. Auk \u00feeirra sat \u00ed doktorsnefnd dr. Lena I. M\u00e5rtensson, d\u00f3sent vi\u00f0 H\u00e1sk\u00f3lann \u00ed Gautaborg.<\/p>\n

Krist\u00edn Briem, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 sj\u00fakra\u00fej\u00e1lfun, stj\u00f3rnar ath\u00f6fninni sem fer fram \u00ed H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asal H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands og hefst kl. 13.00.<\/p>\n

Veri\u00f0 \u00f6ll velkomin!<\/p>\n

About database<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heilsul\u00e6si (HL) er tali\u00f0 nau\u00f0synlegt fyrir heilsu og vels\u00e6ld f\u00f3lks \u00e1 \u00f6llum aldri. A\u00f0 vera heilsul\u00e6s, \u00fea\u00f0 er a\u00f0 taka heilsutengdar \u00e1kvar\u00f0anir og rata innan heilbrig\u00f0is- og velfer\u00f0arkerfisins, byggir \u00e1 getu einstaklings og tilt\u00e6kum uppl\u00fdsingum og \u00fej\u00f3nustu. \u00cd Evr\u00f3pu hefur mikilv\u00e6gi HL aukist sem sj\u00e1 m\u00e1 \u00ed ranns\u00f3knum og stefnum\u00f3tun \u00e1samt a\u00f0ger\u00f0um til a\u00f0 m\u00e6la HL almennings, \u00fevert \u00e1 l\u00f6nd. \u00c1 heimsv\u00edsu m\u00e6list eldra f\u00f3lk me\u00f0 l\u00e6gra HL en a\u00f0rir aldursh\u00f3par fullor\u00f0inna einstaklinga, \u00fe\u00f3tt eitthvert \u00f3samr\u00e6mi s\u00e9 a\u00f0 finna. Takmarka\u00f0ar uppl\u00fdsingar eru til um HL \u00e1 \u00cdslandi sem og a\u00f0gengileg sta\u00f0f\u00e6r\u00f0 matst\u00e6ki.<\/p>\n

Ranns\u00f3knin, Heilsul\u00e6si og eldri \u00cdslendingar b\u00fasettir \u00ed heimah\u00fasi, varpar lj\u00f3si \u00e1 v\u00edxlverkandi samspil einstaklings- og umhverfis\u00fe\u00e1tta sem hafa \u00e1hrif \u00e1 getu eldra f\u00f3lks til a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6ma HL-tengd verk \u00ed s\u00ednu umhverfi. Meginmarkmi\u00f0 ranns\u00f3knarinnar, sem er \u00fer\u00ed\u00fe\u00e6tt, var a\u00f0 rannsaka HL, me\u00f0 \u00e1herslu \u00e1 f\u00f3lk 65 \u00e1ra og eldra, sem b\u00fdr \u00ed heimah\u00fasi \u00e1 strj\u00e1lb\u00fdlum sv\u00e6\u00f0um \u00e1 Nor\u00f0urlandi \u00fat fr\u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6kubundinni s\u00fdn \u00e1 i\u00f0jur\u00e9ttl\u00e6ti. Undirmarkmi\u00f0in f\u00f3lu \u00ed s\u00e9r a\u00f0: I) \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0a, sta\u00f0f\u00e6ra og notkunarpr\u00f3fa stuttu \u00fatg\u00e1funa af evr\u00f3pska spurningalistanum um heilsul\u00e6si (HLS-EU-Q16), \u00e1samt \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 setja vi\u00f0mi\u00f0st\u00f6lur fyrir HL \u00e1 \u00cdslandi; II) m\u00e6la HL eldra f\u00f3lks \u00e1 Nor\u00f0urlandi me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 nota HLS-EU-Q16-IS, bera kennsl \u00e1 \u00feau svi\u00f0 sem eru krefjandi og rannsaka tengsl stig HL vi\u00f0 \u00fdmsa einstaklings-og umhverfis\u00fe\u00e6tti; og III) rannsaka reynslu og \u00fearfir eldra f\u00f3lks \u00e1 Nor\u00f0urlandi sem l\u00fata a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vera heilsul\u00e6s.<\/p>\n

Ni\u00f0urst\u00f6\u00f0ur sty\u00f0ja vi\u00f0 notagildi HLS-EU-Q16-IS \u00e1 \u00cdslandi. Fyrstu vi\u00f0mi\u00f0st\u00f6lur fyrir HL me\u00f0al almennings \u00e1 \u00cdslandi gefa til kynna tilt\u00f6lulega h\u00e1tt HL mi\u00f0a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 evr\u00f3pskar \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0isranns\u00f3knir. Hins vegar m\u00e6ldist eldra f\u00f3lk \u00e1 Nor\u00f0urlandi me\u00f0 takmarka\u00f0ra HL en almenningur og samband var \u00e1 milli HL og \u00fdmissa einstaklings- og umhverfis\u00fe\u00e1tta sem bendir til fl\u00f3kins samspils. I\u00f0jubundi\u00f0 \u00f3r\u00e9ttl\u00e6ti birtist \u00ed upplifa\u00f0ri togstreitu \u00fe\u00e1tttakenda \u00e1 milli eigin \u00e1byrg\u00f0ar \u00e1 heilsu og oft skorts \u00e1 m\u00f6guleikum \u00ed umhverfinu til a\u00f0 breg\u00f0ast vi\u00f0. \u00deetta \u00f3r\u00e9ttl\u00e6ti takmarkar \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6ku eldra f\u00f3lks \u00ed mikilv\u00e6gri i\u00f0ju fyrir heilsu og vels\u00e6ld. \u00dev\u00ed \u00fearf a\u00f0 huga a\u00f0 valdajafnv\u00e6gi \u00ed \u00f6llum a\u00f0ger\u00f0um tengdum HL og vinna a\u00f0 sameiginlegri \u00e1byrg\u00f0 \u00e1 heilsu og inngildingu eldra f\u00f3lks.<\/p>\n

Health literacy (HL) is considered essential to the health and well-being of people of all ages. To be health literate, that is, to make health-related decisions and navigate within the healthcare and welfare systems, is based on individual ability and availability of information and services. In Europe, the importance of HL in research and policy has risen, along with actions to measure comprehensive HL among populations across countries. Although somewhat inconsistent, older adults have been measured globally with lower HL than other adult age groups. However, valid instruments and information on HL in Iceland are limited.<\/p>\n

The research, Health Literacy and Older Community-dwelling Icelanders sheds light on the dynamic interaction of personal and environmental factors influencing older adults’ ability to perform HL tasks within their environment. The overall aim was to investigate HL, focusing on community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older in sparsely populated areas of northern Iceland from a participatory occupational justice perspective. This included: I) translating, adapting, and validating the Health Literacy Questionnaire, short version (HLS-EU-Q16), as well as establishing norms for HL among the general Icelandic population; II) measuring HL and identifying challenging domains among older adults in northern Iceland using the HLS-EU-Q16-IS, and investigating the associations of HL with various personal and environmental factors; and III) exploring the experiences and needs of older adults in northern Iceland regarding being health literate.<\/p>\n

Results indicate that the HLS-EU-Q16-IS version was valid for use in Iceland. The first preliminary norms on HL among the general population indicate a relatively high score compared to European cross-country population-based studies. However, older adults in the north were measured with more limited HL than the general adult population. Among the older adults, there was a correlation between the HL score and various personal and environmental factors, indicating a complex interaction. Occupational injustice was apparent in the tension participants experienced between their responsibility for health and the often lack of environmental-related options to respond. This limits older adults’ participation in meaningful occupations essential for health and well-being. Therefore, it is necessary to consider power balance in all actions related to HL and to work towards shared responsibility for the health and inclusion of older adults.<\/p>\n

Um doktorsefni\u00f0:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sonja Stelly G\u00fastafsd\u00f3ttir er f\u00e6dd \u00e1ri\u00f0 1975 \u00e1 Akureyri. H\u00fan lauk bakkal\u00e1rpr\u00f3fi \u00ed i\u00f0ju\u00fej\u00e1lfunarfr\u00e6\u00f0i fr\u00e1 H\u00e1sk\u00f3lanum \u00e1 Akureyri \u00e1ri\u00f0 2003 og meistarapr\u00f3fi \u00ed heilsueflingu innan l\u00fd\u00f0heilsuv\u00edsinda fr\u00e1 Brunel University of London \u00e1ri\u00f0 2008. Sonja starfa\u00f0i sem i\u00f0ju\u00fej\u00e1lfi \u00e1 ge\u00f0deild Landsp\u00edtalans \u00e1\u00f0ur en h\u00fan h\u00f3f meistaran\u00e1mi\u00f0 og var r\u00e1\u00f0in til starfa vi\u00f0 H\u00e1sk\u00f3lann \u00e1 Akureyri a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed loknu. Samhli\u00f0a doktorsn\u00e1minu hefur Sonja veri\u00f0 \u00ed fullu starfi vi\u00f0 kennslu, ranns\u00f3knir og stj\u00f3rnun vi\u00f0 i\u00f0ju\u00fej\u00e1lfunarfr\u00e6\u00f0ideild H\u00e1sk\u00f3lans \u00e1 Akureyri.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":5764,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_phd_date_start":"2025-05-07T13:00:00+00:00","_phd_date_end":"2025-05-07T16:00:00+00:00","_phd_location":"A\u00f0albygging H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asalur","_phd_admission":"A\u00f0gangur \u00f3keypis","_phd_thesis_title":"Heilsul\u00e6si og eldri \u00cdslendingar b\u00fasettir \u00ed heimah\u00fasi: \u00de\u00e1ttt\u00f6kubundin s\u00fdn \u00e1 getu einstaklinga og m\u00f6guleika \u00ed umhverfinu. 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