Cecilia Olsson, Professor of Nursing
Cecilia Olsson grew up in Värmlandsnäs, just outside Säffle. She qualified as a nurse at what was then the University College of Health Sciences in Värmland (Hälsohögskolan i Värmland) in 1994, and graduated as a specialist nurse in oncology at Örebro University in 1999. She began working at Karlstad University as a lecturer in 2007 and later completed her PhD with the doctoral thesis Sexuality in Patients Treated for Hematologic Malignancies. Problems and the Need for Support from Patients’ and Nurses’ Perspectives.
“I have extensive clinical experience as a nurse, primarily in cancer care and palliative care. Since completing my PhD, I have worked as a senior lecturer with responsibility for the development and quality assurance of the clinical placements within the nursing programme. In 2021, I was appointed docent at Karlstad University, and since 2023, I have held the position of professor at Lovisenberg Diaconal University College in Oslo.”
After completing her PhD studies, Cecilia Olsson has continued to conduct research on sexual health related to cancer. Her work also focuses on how to manage symptoms and the need for support among patients and their families, all of which are important areas within both cancer rehabilitation and palliative care.
“I want my research to make a real difference for patients and their families, particularly within cancer and palliative care, but more recently also within municipal healthcare. Some of my projects are directly aimed at patients and their families, while others focus on the healthcare teams that provide the care. These areas have not been prioritised enough, despite their significant impact on people’s quality of life.”
Cecilia Olsson leads several research groups, including a project called “SexCanWebEdNurse” – an educational intervention aimed at strengthening nurses’ knowledge and ability to initiate conversations about sexuality with their patients. Patients often have complex needs, which means that interventions must be designed accordingly. In a multidisciplinary research group, an intervention is currently being adapted for the entire rehabilitation team working with women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. Cecilia Olsson’s research contributes valuable knowledge about evidence-based measures that can be implemented in clinical practice and thereby promote patient safety and the quality of care.
“For me, trust means that you can rely on the research conducted and know that the new knowledge produced is based on science and research ethical principles. It also means that those in positions of power in society trust the evidence generated through research and allow it to inform well-founded decisions.”
Outside of work, Cecilia Olsson leads an active life and spends a lot of time in sports halls as a dedicated sports mum. She also enjoys the outdoors and spending time at the summer house in Strömstad with family and friends.