On Thursday, 4 June 2026, Anna Axén successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled Loneliness in Later Life: From the Perspective of Older Adults at Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society. The public defence took place at Allmänna sjukhuset (the General Hospital), HS Aula, Malmö, and marked the completion of her doctoral degree in Care Science. The thesis examines the relationship between loneliness, social connections, and health among older adults, and explores the experiences of older adults participating in community-based activity programmes aimed at reducing loneliness. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative methods, including cross-sectional registry data, semi-structured interviews, ethnographic…
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The project is led by Joakim Niklasson as project leader, in collaboration with Professor Johan Sanmartin Berglund and Professor Peter Anderberg. It explores how increasing digitalisation affects older adults’ opportunities to remain active, engaged, and included in society. Based on a large survey conducted in collaboration with pensioners’ organisations, the findings indicate that while many older adults are motivated and capable of staying involved, structural aspects of digital society can make participation more difficult.The research highlights both barriers and enabling factors related to digital technology, showing how these influence engagement, health, quality of life, and sense of meaning in everyday…
Read moreCongratulations to Dr. Elina Mikaelsson Midlöv on her doctoral thesis:“Standing next to but not being part of: Support for relatives in general palliative care at home.”The thesis explores how relatives are supported by healthcare professionals before and after a patient’s death when general palliative care is provided at home. Based on four studies involving both relatives and registered nurses, the findings show that relatives often receive some support, but that it is frequently experienced as insufficient, unstructured, and not fully adapted to their needs.The thesis highlights the importance of structured, person-centred support, continuous communication, shared responsibility, and emotional support both…
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Last week, Sarah Nauman Ghazi and Helén Dellkvist from the Health Technology Research Lab participated in the spring SWEAH PhD Student Days, held at Kristianstad University under the theme ”Introduction to Writing Retreats". The days offered a rich program combining focused independent writing time with shared learning activities. Participants engaged in discussions on how to write strong kappa and grant applications and attended a lecture by Joachim Liedtke, on the use of artificial intelligence in scientific writing. Networking and the exchange of research experiences across universities were also central parts of the program" Picture credit: Stina Elfverson Source: https://www.sweah.lu.se/artikel/populart-tema-lockade-ovanligt-manga-till-sweahs-doktoranddagar
Read moreThe feature highlights her work on identifying Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage using methods that have the potential to support broader screening. Her research focuses on combining retinal image analysis, automated cognitive testing, and blood biomarker analysis to detect early biological changes linked to the disease. The article also emphasizes the importance of earlier and more accurate detection, particularly as new treatments appear to be most effective in the very early phases of disease progression. Ana describes how this line of research may contribute to future screening approaches in primary care and improve access to earlier support, monitoring, and…
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We are pleased to welcome Burak as a new PhD researcher joining our group to work on digital and data-driven approaches for understanding vascular aging in primary care settings. The project aims to improve early identification of subtle vascular changes that precede overt cardiovascular disease by using patient-near measurements and clinically relevant data that can be integrated into everyday healthcare practice. The research focuses on non-invasive indicators of cardiovascular regulation and arterial health, including heart rate variability (HRV) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), which together provide complementary perspectives on vascular function and structure. By integrating existing scientific knowledge with real-world…
Read moreParticipation in the HCI International 2025: Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population As digital engagement becomes an integral part of everyday life, understanding how technology use relates to sleep health is increasingly important—especially for older adults. At HCI International 2025 (HCII 2025) in Gothenburg (22–27 June 2025), Sarah Nauman Ghazi presented the conference paper “Wired and Not Tired? Internet Use and Sleep in Older Adults” (co-authored with Peter Anderberg and Johan Sanmartin Berglund). The conference brought together researchers and practitioners from around the world to exchange perspectives on two major shifts shaping society today: rapid population aging and…
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The Health & Technology Research Lab is pleased to welcome Sandra Falkskär as a new PhD student and member of the research team in Applied Health Technology. Sandra’s doctoral research focuses on the use of virtual reality (VR) in clinical simulation within undergraduate nursing education, situated within the broader field of applied health technology. The project aims to investigate how VR-based simulation can support learning and competence development in nursing education, with particular emphasis on: learning outcomes usability and user experience implementation challenges in educational settings underlying learning processes associated with VR-based simulation Through multiple studies, the project seeks to…
Read moreResearch from Blekinge Institute of Technology on AI-based voice analysis for the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD/KOL) has recently been highlighted in Svenska Dagbladet. The article discusses how voice recordings analyzed with artificial intelligence may, in the future, complement existing clinical methods by supporting earlier identification and follow-up of COPD. The work is based on research exploring voice as a digital biomarker for respiratory disease. The feature brings attention to the broader public health challenge of underdiagnosis in COPD and the potential role of applied health technology in addressing this gap. 🔗 Article (paywalled, Svenska Dagbladet):https://www.svd.se/a/7pngVK/studie-rostprov-leder-till-snabbare-upptackt-av-kol
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We are pleased to welcome Line Christiansen, PhD, to the Health Technology team as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Health Technology (AHT). Line’s research focuses on advancements in health technology, particularly digital health solutions and their potential to support health-related quality of life among older adults. Her work places special emphasis on individuals living with cognitive impairment, where digital tools can play a critical role in promoting independence, safety, and person-centered care. Line brings a strong clinical foundation to her research. She is a registered nurse with professional experience spanning both primary care and specialized healthcare services. This clinical background…
Read moreTHIHA:s årliga konferens vid Institutionen för hälsa genomfördes nyligen och samlade forskare samt medarbetare inom verksamheten, inklusive representanter från Health and Technology Research Lab. Konferensen utgjorde en central mötesplats för presentation, diskussion och reflektion kring aktuell forskning och utveckling inom området tillämpad hälsoteknik. Under konferensen var det forskarna som stod för presentationerna, och totalt genomfördes 16 presentationer med fokus på pågående och planerade forskningsprojekt. Presentationerna omfattade ett brett och tvärvetenskapligt spektrum av ämnen, bland annat användning av artificiell intelligens under radiotystnad för militära syften, munhälsa, sömn, organdonation samt digitala berättelser som stöd efter palliativ vård. Även metodologiska frågor, såsom hantering…
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Ingress:I ett inslag i SVT Nyheter Blekinge medverkar forskaren och universitetslektorn Charlotte Romare, intensivvårdssjuksköterska vid Institutionen för hälsa, Blekinge tekniska högskola (BTH). I reportaget berättar hon hur BTH arbetar med att lära studenter använda AI som ett stöd i lärandet, med fokus på akademiskt skrivande, faktagranskning och tydliga etiska ramar. AI som en del av akademisk kompetens Artificiell intelligens har snabbt blivit en del av studenters vardag. På BTH integreras AI i undervisningen på ett sätt som stärker studenternas akademiska färdigheter, snarare än ersätter dem. I SVT-inslaget beskriver Charlotte Romare hur AI används som ett pedagogiskt verktyg kopplat till kritiskt…
Read moreVetenskapsrådet investerar 60 miljoner kronor i den nya nationella forskarskolan DACHE (Development of Academic Competence in Health Care Education). Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (BTH) är ett av sex deltagande lärosäten i satsningen, som syftar till att stärka den akademiska kompetensen inom hälso- och sjukvårdsutbildningar och öka antalet disputerade lärare i professionsutbildningar, såsom sjuksköterskeprogrammet. – Det här är en viktig satsning för både utbildning och kompetensförsörjning, säger Peter Anderberg, professor i tillämpad hälsoteknik vid BTH. Start 2026 – två doktorander per lärosäte Forskarskolan DACHE startar 2026. Varje deltagande lärosäte rekryterar två doktorander med fokus på att bygga långsiktig forskningskapacitet och skapa nya…
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The European Health Data Space (EHDS) is a major EU initiative aimed at making health data more accessible, secure, and usable across all Member States. It introduces a common framework for accessing, sharing, and reusing health data in a responsible manner. As part of this process, the European Commission is publishing a series of implementing acts that explain how various aspects of the regulation will function in practice. The Commission has now released the first draft implementing act, which outlines how the European Health Data Space Board (EHDS Board) will be established and its operational framework. The proposal outlines the…
Read moreWe are pleased to welcome Flippa Stenberg as a new PhD student at the Health & Technology Research Lab. Flippa’s doctoral project is situated within applied health technology, with a particular focus on how artificial intelligence can strengthen telemedicine for field medics in the Armed Forces. Her research will investigate how AI-driven decision support can enhance assessment, triage, and medical care in high-stakes and time-sensitive environments. Her work contributes to our broader efforts to develop data-driven tools and methods that support healthcare professionals in both clinical and operational settings. We look forward to following Flippa’s progress and the insights her…
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