Birgitta Johansson – Caring sciences in oncology care
Research in the group focuses on studying how cancer patients feel during and after therapy, and how they have experienced the therapy and care. We also aim to find ways to improve treatment results, reduce toxicity and adverse effects, and improve patients’ quality of life.
Each year approximately 60 000 people in Sweden receive a cancer diagnosis. During cancer therapy patients suffer from physical side effects and at the same time the disease often causes psychosocial effects such as anxiety and depression. Informal caregivers (partners, other family members or friends) are also at risk for a decreasing health due to the cancer disease.
Our projects include randomized controlled trials where we evaluate the effects of internet-based support on anxiety, depression and health related quality of life in patients and informal caregivers and on informal caregivers’ preparedness to care for a person with cancer.