Pediatric Healthcare Science – Cecilia Bartholdson research group

group of people

The research group works to improve pediatric healthcare by studying various aspects of pediatric healthcare science. We conduct research in areas such as clinical ethics, children's rights, the transition from pediatric to adult care, support for new diagnosis, patient experiences, distraction methods for painful procedures, and language barriers in pediatric healthcare. The goal is to improve the health and well-being, quality of care, and care experiences of children and their families through innovative research and evidence-based care methods.

Our Research

Our research group in paediatric care science is dedicated to improving healthcare for children by exploring various aspects of paediatric care. We are engaged in a broad range of ongoing projects that span multiple research domains and diagnostic groups, making our work both diverse and in-depth.

Below are examples of research areas in which our group is involved:

Moral Distress and Clinical Ethics:
We examine how healthcare professionals manage ethical dilemmas and the stress that can arise in the care of children with cancer. We analyse the ethical dimensions of clinical decisions and their impact on paediatric patients and their families.
Contact: Cecilia Bartholdson, Pernilla Pergert and Isabelle Billstein

Children’s Rights in Healthcare:
We work to ensure that children’s rights are respected and promoted with a person centered perspective. 
Contact: Anna Stålberg

Transition of Care:
We study the transition from paediatric to adult care for patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, with the aim of improving this process to ensure continuity and quality of care.
Contact: Anna Lena Brorsson and Anna Vermé

New Diagnosis Clinics:
We also investigate how children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and their parents experience support through newly established diagnosis clinics.
Contact: Karina Mördrup

Patient Experience:
We are developing a child-adapted PREM (Patient Reported Experience Measure) instrument to enable children to express their experiences of care in their own voice.
Contact: Cecilia Bartholdson and Johanna Granhagen Jungner

Distraction via XR in Painful Procedures:
We are researching XR-based distraction methods to reduce pain and discomfort during medical procedures for children.
Contact: Henrik Hjelmgren and Anna Stålberg

Language Barriers in Paediatric Care:
We explore how language barriers can be overcome to improve communication and the overall quality of care.
Contact: Johanna Granhagen Jungner and Melissa Jakobsson

Through our work, we strive to create a more empathetic, ethical, and effective healthcare environment for children. We are proud to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in paediatric care science and to make a tangible difference in the lives of children.

Publications

All publications from group members

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Projects

PI: Anna Stålberg and Henrik Hjelmgren

Co-researchers: Johanna Granhagen Jungner, Klas Kalholm, Sandra Degent and Ivar Kronqvist

 

PI: Henrik Hjelmgren

Co-researchers: Anna Stålberg, Sandra Degent, Klas Kalholm samt Johanna Granhagen Jungner

 

PI: Anna Stålberg

 Co-researchers: Ulrika Storbacka and Anna Magdesjö

PhD -student: Melissa Jakobsson 
PI and main-supervisor:  Johanna Granhagen Jungner
Co-supervisors: Helena Ventovaara, Pernilla Pergert, Eva Broström and Elisabet Tiselius

PhD -student: Anna Vermé

PI and main-supervisor: Cecilia Bartholdson

Co-supervisors: Johanna Granhagen Jungner, Eva Broström and Karin Palmblad

PhD -student: Karina Mördrup

PI and main-supervisor: Cecilia Bartholdson

Co-supervisors: Johanna Granhagen Jungner, Eva Broström and Karin Palmblad

PhD -student: Isabelle Billstein

PI and main-supervisor: Pernilla Pergert

Co-supervisors: Cecilia Bartholdson, Bert Molewijk and Anders Castor

PI: Anna Stålberg

Co-researchers: Maria Lundholm

Research collaborations

PhD student: Matilda Modigh

PI and main-supervisor: Helene Sundelin

Co-supervisors: Cecilia Bartholdson and Ronny Wickström

PI: Aron Kerenyi

Co-researchers: Cecilia Bartholdson, Anna Stålberg, Henrik Hjelmgren and Johanna Granhagen Jungner

Bihandledare doktorandprojekt

PhD student: Albano De Juan Plaza

PI and main-supervisor: Aron Kerenyi

Co-supervisor: Anna, Stålberg

Henrik Hjelmgren has an ongoing collaboration with two professors and research groups in Australia. Since 2023, a collaboration has been ongoing to exchange experiences and research collaborations on improving pediatric healthcare. In 2023, Prof. Samantha Keogh and Prof. Amanda Ullman visited KBH at KI/KS, in 2024 Henrik went to Australia for a post-doc stay.

Since 2025, Henrik has been an Adjunct Research Fellow in Amanda Ullman's research group. In the fall of 2025, Prof. Samantha Keogh came to PED-V as a visiting researcher to deepen the collaboration. Anna Stålberg and Cecilia Bartholdson are involved in the project.

Samantha Keogh, RN PhD, Professor
Acute & Critical Care Nursing
Queensland University of Technology & Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre

Amanda Ullman, RN, PhD
Acute & Critical Care Nursing
The University of Queensland
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service 
Centre for Children’s Health Research 
Group Leader: Paediatric Nursing and Patient Safety
Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
Children's Health Research Centre
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia