Clinical patient-centred research in nursing: patients experiencing symptoms of pain and thirst
My doctoral thesis focused on pain in patients with head- and neck cancer during radiation therapy. The results indicated that early pain intensity and mild depressive symptoms could negatively impact the quality of life. In summary, the findings suggested that patient education and self-care, as complementary to pharmacological treatment, could alleviate pain intensity in this patient group.Continued research involves studying biological markers in saliva that may reflect pain intensity in patients with head- and neck cancer during radiation therapy. The research is interdisciplinary and conducted in collaboration with various professionals, including nurses, physicians, chemists, pharmacists, and dentists.
Furthermore, I am participating in a research project focusing on thirst in patients within palliative care. The project aims to investigate and describe patients' experiences, quality of life, and interventions related to thirst in the palliative care setting.
