Maria Flink

About me
Publications
Grants
CV
Public outreach and news

About me

2014 PhD in Medical Science, Karolinska Institutet. Link to thesis:
https://openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/handle/10616/41802?locale-attribute=sv
2006 Master of Social Work, University of Lund
2003 Bachelor of Social Work, University of Lund

Research

My main research interest is collaboration in the welfare society and patients' activation and participation
in their care, especially by the critical time of hospital discharge and the
transition to home.

I am employed at FOU nu, a Research and Development unit for older people, and is affiliated to the Division of Social Work at the Department
of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, KI.

Articles

Article: PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING. 2025;139:109241
Group leaders' experiences of an online train-the-trainer programme for the Fewer Falls in multiple sclerosis intervention: A mixed method study.
Bylinder J; Ytterberg C; Kierkegaard M; Flink M; Gottberg K
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2025;25(2):3
Navigating Complexity: Lessons Learned from Co-Designing a Care Transition Intervention for People with Stroke
Lindblom S; Ytterberg C; Laska AC; Tistad M; Elf M; VON Koch L; Flink M
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2025;15(4):e081931
Motivational interviewing for reducing rehospitalisation and improving patient activation among patients with heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised controlled trial
Kaltenbrunner M; Flink M; Brandberg C; Hellstrom A; Ekstedt M
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2025;15(1):4720
Stroke survivors' health literacy is not associated with caregiver burden: a cross-sectional study
Hess Engstrom A; Lindblom S; Flink M; Soderberg S; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION. 2025;47(2):398-405
Preventing falls in multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study on user requirements for a self-management programme
Meijer U; Flink M; Tuvemo Johnson S; Kierkegaard M; Gottberg K; Ytterberg C
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2025;15(1):e089217
Effectiveness of Fewer Falls, an online group-based self-management fall prevention programme for people with multiple sclerosis: protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Johnson ST; Flink M; Gottberg K; Peterson EW; Meijer U; Bylinder J; Kierkegaard M; Ytterberg C
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT. 2024;40(2):358-367
Managers' Experience of the Response of the Health System to the Covid-19 Pandemic for Inpatient Geriatric Care: Lessons About Organisation and Resilience
Uvhagen H; Tolf S; Carlsson KS; Ovretveit J; Flink M; Sparring V
Article: HEALTH EXPECTATIONS. 2024;27(5):e70057
Feasibility, Fidelity and Acceptability of a Person-Centred Care Transition Support Intervention for Stroke Survivors: A Non-Randomised Controlled Study
Lindblom S; Flink M; von Koch L; Laska AC; Ytterberg C
Article: HEALTH EXPECTATIONS. 2024;27(4):e14154
Development of Fewer Falls in MS-An Online, Theory-Based, Fall Prevention Self-Management Programme for People With Multiple Sclerosis
Johnson ST; Ytterberg C; Peterson E; Johansson S; Kierkegaard M; Gottberg K; Flink M
Article: BMC GERIATRICS. 2024;24(1):591
The impact of discharge letter content on unplanned hospital readmissions within 30 and 90 days in older adults with chronic illness - a mixed methods study
Adelsjo I; Lehnbom EC; Hellstroem A; Nilsson L; Flink M; Ekstedt M
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2024;14(1):7308
Association between general self-efficacy and health literacy among stroke survivors 1-year post-discharge: a cross-sectional study
Engstrom AH; Flink M; Lindblom S; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. 2024;25(2):215-222.e3
Social Services Post-discharge and Their Association With Readmission in a 2016 Swedish Geriatric Cohort
Pfaff R; Willers C; Sw MF; Lindqvist R; Rydwik E
Article: PLOS ONE. 2024;19(3):e0299800
A person-centred care transition support for people with stroke/TIA: A study protocol for effect and process evaluation using a non-randomised controlled design
Lindblom S; Flink M; von Koch L; Tistad M; Stenberg U; Elf M; Carlsson AC; Laska AC; Ytterberg C
Journal article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2023;23(S1):72
Co-designing collaborative health deterioration prevention together with older people, civic society, and community health and social care
Flink M; Strehlenert H; Lindgren C; Karlsson E; Klinga C; Meinow B; Wallcook S; Johansson K; Goliath I
Article: TOPICS IN STROKE REHABILITATION. 2023;30(8):865-871
Health literacy is associated with less depression symptoms, higher perceived recovery, higher perceived participation, and walking ability one year after stroke - a cross-sectional study
Flink M; Lindblom S; von Koch L; Carlsson AC; Ytterberg C
Article: HEALTHCARE. 2023;11(3):391
The Use of Teach Back at Hospital Discharge to Support Self-Management of Prescribed Medication for Secondary Prevention after Stroke-Findings from A Feasibility Study
Lindblom S; Ytterberg C; Flink M; Carlsson ACC; Stenberg U; Tistad M; von Koch L; Laska AC
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2022;12(7):e061325
Online self-management fall prevention intervention for people with multiple sclerosis: a feasibility study protocol of a parallel group randomised trial
Kierkegaard M; Peterson E; Tuvemo Johnson S; Gottberg K; Johansson S; Elf M; Flink M; Ytterberg C
Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2022;22(1):594
Referral-based transition to subsequent rehabilitation at home after stroke: one-year outcomes and use of healthcare services
Lindblom S; Tistad M; Flink M; Laska AC; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;19(1):391
Design and Development of an eHealth Service for Collaborative Self-Management among Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Theory-Driven User-Centered Approach
Ekstedt M; Kirsebom M; Lindqvist G; Kneck A; Frykholm O; Flink M; Wannheden C
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2021;11(12):e047329
Person-centred care transitions for people with stroke: study protocol for a feasibility evaluation of codesigned care transition support
Flink M; Lindblom S; Tistad M; Laska AC; Bertilsson BC; Warlinge C; Hasselstrom J; Elf M; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2021;11(7):e046896
Self-management challenges following hospital discharge for patients with multimorbidity: a longitudinal qualitative study of a motivational interviewing intervention
Brandberg C; Ekstedt M; Flink M
Article: HEALTH EXPECTATIONS. 2021;24(3):905-916
The manifestation of participation within a co-design process involving patients, significant others and health-care professionals
Lindblom S; Flink M; Elf M; Laska AC; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. 2020;21(12):1885-1892
Perceived Quality of Care Transitions between Hospital and the Home in People with Stroke
Lindblom S; Flink M; Sjostrand C; Laska A-C; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: BMC FAMILY PRACTICE. 2020;21(1):233
"Standing on common ground"-a qualitative study of self-management support for patients with multimorbidity in primary health care
Freilich J; Nilsson GH; Ekstedt M; Flink M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2020;20(1):11
Perceptive Dialogue for Linking Stakeholders and Units During Care Transitions - A Qualitative Study of People with Stroke, Significant Others and Healthcare Professionals in Sweden
Lindblom S; Ytterberg C; Elf M; Flink M
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;19(1):1701
Validation of the patient activation measure in patients at discharge from hospitals and at distance from hospital care in Sweden
Hellstrom A; Tessma MK; Flink M; Dahlgren A; Schildmeijer K; Ekstedt M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2019;19(3):20
The Information Flow in a Healthcare Organisation with Integrated Units
Kneck A; Flink M; Frykholm O; Kirsebom M; Ekstedt M
Article: CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK JOURNAL. 2019;47(3):258-265
Research Use and Evidence-Based Practice Among Swedish Medical Social Workers: A Qualitative Study
Udo C; Forsman H; Jensfelt M; Flink M
Article: TRIALS. 2019;20(1):82
Why patients decline participation in an intervention to reduce re-hospitalization through patient activation: whom are we missing?
Flink M; Brandberg C; Ekstedt M
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2018;8(12):e024068
Exploring patient safety in Swedish specialised home healthcare: an interview study with multidisciplinary teams and clinical managers
Lindblad M; Flink M; Ekstedt M
Journal article: SYKEPLEIEN. 2018;(72863):e-72863
Læring + mestring = god helseøkonomi
Stenberg U; Hvinden K; Vågan A; Flink M; Fredriksen K; Gallefoss F
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2018;8(8):e022222
Resource use of healthcare services 1 year after stroke: a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of a client-centred activities of daily living intervention
Tistad M; Flink M; Ytterberg C; Eriksson G; Guidetti S; Tham K; von Koch L
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE. 2018;30(4):291-297
Measuring care transitions in Sweden: validation of the care transitions measure
Flink M; Tessma M; Smastuen MC; Lindblad M; Coleman EA; Ekstedt M
Article: STUDIES IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATICS. 2018;247:925-929
Developing an eHealth Tool to Support Patient Empowerment at Home
Schildmeijer K; Wannheden C; Nilsson L; Frykholm O; Hellstrom A; Flink M; Ekstedt M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2017;17(6):1
Planning for the Discharge, not for Patient Self-Management at Home - An Observational and Interview Study of Hospital Discharge
Flink M; Ekstedt M
Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2017;17(1):598
Safe medication management in specialized home healthcare - an observational study
Lindblad M; Flink M; Ekstedt M
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2017;7(7):e014178
The Supporting Patient Activation in Transition to Home (sPATH) intervention: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial using motivational interviewing to decrease re-hospitalisation for patients with COPD or heart failure
Flink M; Lindblad M; Frykholm O; Kneck A; Nilsen P; Arstedt K; Ekstedt M
Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2017;17(1):24
The case of value-based healthcare for people living with complex long-term conditions
Elf M; Flink M; Nilsson M; Tistad M; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Article: CLINICAL REHABILITATION. 2016;30(12):1200-1210
Training in client-centeredness enhances occupational therapist documentation on goal setting and client participation in goal setting in the medical records of people with stroke
Flink M; Bertilsson A-S; Johansson U; Guidetti S; Tham K; von Koch L
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS. 2015;84(5):355-362
Patient-centered handovers between hospital andprimary health care: An assessment of medical records
Flink M; Glas SB; Airosa F; Ohlen G; Barach P; Hansagi H; Brommels M; Olsson M
Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2014;14:389
Improving patient discharge and reducing hospital readmissions by using Intervention Mapping
Hesselink G; Zegers M; Vernooij-Dassen M; Barach P; Kalkman C; Flink M; Ohlen G; Olsson M; Bergenbrant S; Orrego C; Sunol R; Toccafondi G; Venneri F; Dudzik-Urbaniak E; Kutryba B; Schoonhoven L; Wollersheim H
Article: MEDICAL CARE. 2013;51(1):90-98
Organizational Culture An Important Context for Addressing and Improving Hospital to Community Patient Discharge
Hesselink G; Vernooij-Dassen M; Pijnenborg L; Barach P; Gademan P; Dudzik-Urbaniak E; Flink M; Orrego C; Toccafondi G; Johnson JK; Schoonhoven L; Wollersheim H
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21:39-49
Are patients discharged with care? A qualitative study of perceptions and experiences of patients, family members and care providers
Hesselink G; Flink M; Olsson M; Barach P; Dudzik-Urbaniak E; Orrego C; Toccafondi G; Kalkman C; Johnson JK; Schoonhoven L; Vernooij-Dassen M; Wollersheim H
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21:97-105
Searching for the missing pieces between the hospital and primary care: mapping the patient process during care transitions
Johnson JK; Farnan JM; Barach P; Hesselink G; Wollersheim H; Pijnenborg L; Kalkman C; Arora VM
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21:22-28
Conducting a multicentre and multinational qualitative study on patient transitions
Johnson JK; Barach P; Vernooij-Dassen M
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21(Suppl_1):89-96
The key actor: a qualitative study of patient participation in the handover process in Europe
Flink M; Hesselink G; Pijnenborg L; Wollersheim H; Vernooij-Dassen M; Dudzik-Urbaniak E; Orrego C; Toccafondi G; Schoonhoven L; Gademan PJ; Johnson JK; Ohlen G; Hansagi H; Olsson M; Barach P
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21(Suppl_1):76-83
Beliefs and experiences can influence patient participation in handover between primary and secondary care-a qualitative study of patient perspectives
Flink M; Ohlen G; Hansagi H; Barach P; Olsson M
Article: BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY. 2012;21(Suppl_1):i29-i38
Evaluation of a predevelopment service delivery intervention: an application to improve clinical handovers
Yao GL; Novielli N; Manaseki-Holland S; Chen Y-F; van der Klink M; Barach P; Chilton PJ; Lilford RJ
Show more

All other publications

Review: ORPHANET JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES. 2024;19(1):328
A scoping review of health literacy in rare disorders: key issues and research directions
Stenberg U; Westfal L; Dybesland Rosenberger A; Orstavik K; Flink M; Holmen H; Systad S; Westermann KF; Velvin G
Conference publication: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL. 2024;30(3):676
Feasibility and outcome of an online self-management fall-prevention intervention for people with multiple sclerosis: a parallel group randomised pilot study
Meijer U; Kierkegaard M; Johnson ST; Bylinder J; Gottberg K; Flink M; Ytterberg C
Published conference paper: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2023;23(S1):253
How do management in civic society organisations, strategic managers, and policy-makers reason about their own role in collaborative community-based prevention and outcomes thereof, within health and social care in Sweden?
Klinga C
Review: CLINICAL REHABILITATION. 2023;37(2):162-176
Self-management of falls in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review
Tuvemo Johnson S; Flink M; Peterson E; Gottberg K; Elf M; Johansson S; Kierkegaard M; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE. 2023;18(1):24-25
Associations between health literacy and clinical outcomes one year after stroke: a cross-sectional study
Lindblom S; Flink M; Koch L; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE. 2023;18(1):32
Collective iterative learning - The way forward in implementing co-designed person-centred transition support for people with stroke: a feasibility study
Lindblom S; Koch L; Laska A; Tistad M; Flink M; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE. 2023;18(1):86
Participation in a co-design process - learnings and implications for enabling individual and collective participation in development of stroke services
Lindblom S; Koch L; Flink M; Elf M; Laska A; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2022;22:255
Participation in a co-design process - learnings and implications for enabling individual and collective participation in co-design
Lindblom S; Flink M; Elf M; Laska AC; Von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Review: PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING. 2018;101(6):1006-1035
Health economic evealuations of patient education interventions a scoping review of the literature
Stenberg U; Vagan A; Flink M; Lynggaard V; Fredriksen K; Westermann KF; Gallefoss F
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2018;18:317
Perceived quality of care transitions between hospital and the home - a cross sectional study
Lindblom S; Flink M; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE. 2018;13:18
Person-centered transitions for people with stroke - are we doing enough? A Swedish example
Lindblom S; Flink M; Elf M; Laska AC; von Koch L; Ytterberg C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2017;17:440
Can implementation of standardized care pathways meet the conflicting demands of an integrated, personalized and effective care?
Ekstedt M; Flink M
Meeting abstract: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2016;16:338
User-centered design of integrated eHealth to improve patients' activation in transitional care
Frykholm O; Flink M; Lindblad M; Ekstedt M
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. 2016;16:220
Prerequisites for patient self-management learning at hospital discharge an observational multiple case study
Flink M; Ekstedt M
Conference publication: ANNALS OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE. 2016;50:S265
PATIENT SELF-MANAGEMENT LEARNING AT HOSPITAL DISCHARGE - AN OBSERVATIONAL MULTIPLE CASE STUDY.
Flink M; Eksted M
Doctoral thesis: 2013
Patients' position in care transitions : an analysis of patient participation and patient-centeredness
Flink M

Grants

Supporting local actors to co-create integrated services – a participatory action research project with and for social service, primary care, and older people
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 April 2024 - 31 March 2028
A self-management program to prevent falls in people with multiple sclerosis - a randomized controlled trial
Swedish Research Council
1 January 2024 - 31 January 2026
A self-management program to prevent falls in people with multiple sclerosis - a randomized controlled trial
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
Realist evaluation of the national reform “Good quality, local health care”” – in collaboration with stakeholders in municipalities, region, and the civic society
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 January 2023 - 31 August 2023
Implementation and evaluation of a coordinated care transition focusing on understanding of health information for older people with stroke
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 November 2021 - 31 October 2024
Re@home – Evaluation of home rehabilitation for older people: A realist evaluation design
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 November 2021 - 31 October 2025
Coordination of care after discharge in a complex healthcare landscape – today’s situation and a possible way forward
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 November 2021 - 31 October 2025
Teach back to enhance self-management of prescribed medication - a feasibility study
The Kamprad family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research & Charity
1 September 2021 - 31 August 2023
Com-CooP - A community-based participatory research project to co-design collaborative prevention of deterioration of health in older adults
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 July 2021 - 30 June 2025
A self-management program to prevent falls in ambulatory and non-ambulatory community dwelling people with multiple sclerosis
Swedish Research Council
1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
A self-management program to prevent falls in ambulatory and non-ambulatory community dwelling people with multiple sclerosis
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 January 2020 - 31 December 2022
Coordination of health and social care services for older people - a collaborative project for sustainability and improved outcomes
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 December 2019 - 30 November 2020
Person-centred care transitions for people with complex health conditions: a co-design project
The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research & Charity
1 September 2019 - 31 August 2022
The ties that bind fragmented care – best practices, definitions, and measures of continuity of care
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 January 2018 - 31 December 2020
Engaging patients as co-players in transitional care from hospital to home
Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
1 January 2016 - 31 December 2017

Employments

Affiliated to Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2028
Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2025

Degrees and Education

Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2022
Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2014

About me

Research

Articles

All other publications

Grants

Employments

Degrees and Education

News from KI

Events from KI