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Annelie Sundler

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Annelie Sundler. Photo: RKH

Name: Annelie Sundler
Titel: Professor
Department: Department of Health Sciences
Phone: +46(0)8-587 516 44
E-mail: annelie.sundler@rkh.se
ORCID: 0000-0002-9194-3244
Dissertation year: 2008
Thesis: My heart, my life : Women’s uncertain health journey following a myocardial infarction.
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Annelie-Sundler
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelie-j-sundler-637a0669/  

About me

Annelie J Sundler is a registered nurse, PhD in Caring Science, and Professor at the Swedish Red Cross University. I currently work with education and research and have extensive experience in teaching and supervision within nursing and specialist nursing programs. I also conduct pedagogical research on teaching and learning.

Research profile

My research explores communication, interaction, and person-centred care, focusing on their impact on health, well-being, and care quality. It emphasizes patient involvement and includes studies on shared decision-making, clinical assessments, and health-promoting interventions, with ongoing national and international collaborations.

We have developed a model for person-centred communication, COMCARE, which provides guidance on how to create caring and person-centred encounters. Effective communication and good interaction require a range of strategies—from empathic listening and acknowledgement to clear, supporting and appraising communication—adapted to different care contexts. Healthcare professionals’ communication shapes patients’ experiences, trust in care, and care outcomes. Nurses’ communication is a powerful tool that, when used effectively, strengthens safe and high-quality care.

I have led research projects such as PINPOINT, which examines patients’ first point of contact during patient-nurse consultations in primary care, and ACTION, an educational intervention focusing on person-centred care for nursing staff in municipal health and social care. I also collaborate on projects including Aging and healthy living for people living with HIV, a commissioned study in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Sweden; Health-promoting factors for a sustainable study and work life, exploring conditions during and after professional education in health, social care, and social work; and ICO-FACT, an international project investigating families’ everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, I contributed to COMHOME, which studied communication between older adults and home care staff across multiple studies.

Brief facts

  • Published more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific articles
  • Supervised six PhD students to completion
  • Served as opponent, member of examination committees, and reviewer at national and international levels
  • External expert for evaluations of research, education, and academic appointments nationally and internationally
  • Held several academic assignments in committees and councils, as well as leadership roles
  • Editorial Board Member of BMC Nursing  

Publications

  • Gustafsson, T., Lindberg, E., Söderholm, H. M., Hedén, L., van Dulmen, S. & Sundler, A.J. (2025). Exploring Emotional Communication Between Older Persons and Nursing Assistants in Home Care: A Qualitative Study. International journal of older people nursing, 20(5), e70048. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.70048
  • Östensson, S., Acuña Mora, M., Darcy, L., Saarnio Huttu, L., Van Dulmen, S., & Sundler, A. J. (2025). Patient-Registered Nurse Communication: Exploring Patients' Expectations and Experience in Primary Care Consultations. Health expectations, 28(4), e70353. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70353
  • Sundler A J., Hedén L., van Dulmen S., Acuña Mora, M., Carlsson Lalloo, E., Holmström I K. (2025). The COMCARE Framework for Person-Centred Communication-A Practical Caring Framework. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 39(3), e70074. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.70074
  • Gotting, E. K., Darcy, L., Israelsson-Skogsberg, Å., Sundler, A. J., & Lalloo, E. C. (2025). Children's experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 20(1), 2501682. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2501682
  • Kleye, I., Hedén, L., Sundler, A. J., Darcy, L., van Dulmen, S. & Karlsson, K. (2025) Increasing child involvement by understanding emotional expression during needle procedures: a video-observational intervention study. Journal of pediatric nursing, 81, e24–e30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2025.01.026
  • Carlsson Lalloo, E., Acuña Mora, M., Sundler, AJ. (2025). Patient reported experiences in older adults living with HIV - a scoping review. AIDS care, 37(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2024.2437693
  • Ekman, A., Pennbrant, S., Sterner, A., Forsberg, E., Hedén, L., Nunstedt, H., Sundler, A. J., Larsson, M., Larsson, I., Ahlstrand, I., Andersson, H. I., Lood, Q., & Hallgren, J. (2024). Health promoting resources and lifestyle factors among higher education students in healthcare and social work programmes: a survey with a longitudinal multicentre design. BMC public health, 24(1), 3097. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20506-9
  • Lund, M., Sundler, AJ., & Carlssson Lallo, E. (2024). Healthcare Experiences and Needs of Older Adults Living With HIV: A Qualitative Study. Journal of clinical nursing, 33(12), 4819–4829. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17538
  • Bergman, K., Hedén, L., Sundler, A J., Hallgren, J. (2024). Unscheduled consultations (at home) by registered nurses – reducing emergency visits by managing needs at home. BMC health services research, 24(1), 1338. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11643-3
  • Sundler, AJ. Lund, M., van Dulmen, S. & Carlsson Lalloo, E. (2024). Exploring experiences of ageing in older adults living with HIV in Sweden: a qualitative study. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 19(1), 2393752. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2393752
  • Larsson, M., Ahlstrand, I., Larsson, I., Lood, Q., Hammar, I. A., Sundler, A. J., Pennbrant, S., Ekman, A., Forsberg, E., Hedén, L., Nunstedt, H., Sterner, A., & Hallgren, J. (2024). Occupational balance and associated factors among students during higher education within healthcare and social work in Sweden: a multicentre repeated cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 14(4), e080995. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080995
  • Darcy, L., Råberus, A., & Sundler, A. J. (2024). A qualitative analysis of child and family complaints related to child mental health services. Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc, 37(1), e12436. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.1243
  • Sundler, A J., Hedén, L., Holmström, I K., van Dulmen, S., Bergman, K., Östensson, S., Östman, M. (2023). The patient's first point of contact (PINPOINT) - protocol of a prospective multicenter study of communication and decision-making during patient assessments by primary care registered nurses. BMC primary care, 24(1), 249. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02208-0
  • Sundler, AJ., Bergnehr, D., Haffejee, S., Iqbal, H., Orellana, M. F., Vergara Del Solar, A., Angeles, S. L., Faircloth, C., Liu, L., Mwanda, A., Sepúlveda Galeas, M., Simelane, T., Twamley, K., & Darcy, L. (2023). Adolescents' and young people's experiences of social relationships and health concerns during COVID-19. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health And Well-Being, 18(1), 2251236. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2251236
  • Olander, A., Andersson, H., Sundler, A. J., Hagiwara, M.A. & Bremer, A. (2023). The onset of sepsis as experienced by patients and family members: A qualitative interview study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 00, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16785
  • Gustafsson, T., Maurin Söderholm, H., Sundler, AJ., Karlsson, P., & Lindberg, E. (2023). ‘Sometimes you need an eye-opener’: A qualitative study on nursing assistants’ experiences of communication in home care after an educational intervention. Nursing Open, 00, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1702
  • Höglander, J., Holmström, IK., Gustafsson, T., Lindberg, E., Söderholm, H. M., Hedén, L., Heideken Wågert, P., & Sundler, AJ. (2023). Implementing A person-centred CommunicaTION (ACTION) educational intervention for in-home nursing assistants – A study protocol. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-03831-3
  • Kleye, I., Sundler, A. J., Karlsson, K., Darcy, L., & Hedén, L. (2023). Positive effects of a child-centered intervention on childrens fear and pain during needle procedures. Pediatric Neonatal Pain. 2023;00:1-8. doi:10.1002/pne2.12095.
  • Höglander, J., Holmström, I. K., Lövenmark, A., Van Dulmen, S., Eide, H., & Sundler, A. J. (2023). Registered nurse-patient communication research: An integrative review for future directions in nursing research. Journal of advanced nursing, 79(2), 539–562. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15548
  • Olander, A., Magnusson, C., Sundler, A. J., Bremer, A., Andersson, H., Herlitz, J., Axelsson, C., & Andersson Hagiwara, M. (2023). Prediction of the Risk of Sepsis by Using Analysis of Plasma Glucose and Serum Lactate in Ambulance Services: A Prospective Study. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 1–8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X23000110
  • Gustafsson, T., Sundler, A. J., Hedén, L., Lindberg, E., & Maurin Söderholm, H. (2023). Communication in home care - A feasibility study of an educational intervention in self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Nursing open, 10, 1375-1382. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1387
  • Larsson, M., Sundler, AJ., Blomberg, K. & Bisholt, B. (2023). The clinical learning environment during clinical practice in postgraduate district nursing students’ education, a cross-sectional study. Nursing open, 10:879–888. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1356
  • Ahlstrand, I., Larsson, I., Larsson, M., Ekman, A., Hedén, L., Laakso, K., Lindmark, U., Nunstedt, H., Oxelmark, L., Pennbrant, S., Sundler, A. J., & Hallgren, J. (2022). Health-promoting factors among students in higher education within health care and social work: a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in a multicentre longitudinal study. BMC public health, 22(1), 1314. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13690-z
  • Sundler, AJ., Råberus, A., Carlsson, G., Nilsson, C., & Darcy, L. (2022). 'Are they really allowed to treat me like that?' - A qualitative study to explore the nature of formal patient complaints about mental healthcare services in Sweden. International journal of mental health nursing, 31(2), 348–357. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12962
  • Kleye, I., Sundler, A. J., Darcy, L., Karlsson, K., & Hedén, L. (2022). Children's communication of emotional cues and concerns during a preoperative needle procedure. Patient education and counseling, 105(6), 1518–1523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.035
  • Olander, A., Bremer, A., Sundler, AJ., Hagiwara, M.A., & Andersson, H. (2021). Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study. BMC Emergency Medicine, 21(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00440-4
  • Gustafsson, T., Sundler, AJ., Lindberg, E., Karlsson, P., & Söderholm, H. M. (2021). Process evaluation of the ACTION programme: a strategy for implementing person-centred communication in home care. BMC nursing, 20(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00565-8
  • Östman, M., Bäck-Pettersson, S., Sundler, A. J., & Sandvik, A. H. (2021). Nurses' experiences of continuity of care for patients with heart failure: A thematic analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(1-2), 276–286. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15547
  • Sundler, AJ., Whilson, M., Darcy, L., Larsson, M. (2021) Swedish school nurses experiences of child abuse. The Journal of School Nursing, 37(3):176-184. doi: 10.1177/1059840519863843.
  • Kleye I, Hedén L, Karlsson K, Sundler AJ, & Darcy, L. (2021). Children's individual voices are required for adequate management of fear and pain during hospital care and treatment. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 35(2), 530–537. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12865
  • Höglander, J., Håkansson Eklund, J., Spreeuwenberg, P., Eide, H., Sundler, A.J., Roter, D., & Holmström, I.K. (2020) Exploring patient-centered aspects of home care communication: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing Sep 29;19:91. doi: 10.1186/s12912-020-00483-1. eCollection 2020.
  • Sundling V, Hafskjold L, Håkansson Eklund J, Holmström IK, Höglander J, Sundler AJ, van Dulmen S, Eide H. (2020). Emotional Communication in Home Care: A comparison between Norway and Sweden. Patient Education and Counselling, 103(8):1546-1553. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2020.03.002
  • Sundler, AJ., Darcy, L., Råberus, A., Holmström, IK. (2020). Unmet health-care needs and human rights – A qualitative analysis of patients’ complaints in light of the right to health and Health Expectations 2020;23:613–620. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13038
  • Lindmark, U., Ahlstrand, I., Ekman, A., Berg, L., Hedén, L. Källstrand, J., Larsson, M., Nunstedt, H., Oxelmark, L., Pennbrant, S., Sundler, AJ., & Larsson, I. (2020). Impact within the Swedish framework for “Health Research in Collaboration”. Health-promoting factors in higher education for a sustainable working life – protocol for a multicenter longitudinal study. BMC Public Health 20, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8181
  • Sundler, AJ., Hjertberg, F., Keri, H., Holmström, IK. (2020) Attributes of person-centred communication. A Qualitative Exploration of communication in home healthcare. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 15(1):e12284.
  • Östman, M., Bäck-Pettersson, S., Sandvik, A. H., & Sundler, A. J. (2019). "Being in good hands": next of kin's perceptions of continuity of care in patients with heart failure. BMC geriatrics, 19(1), 375. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1390-x
  • Olander, A., Andersson, H., Sundler, AJ., Bremer, A., Ljungström, L., Hagiwara Andersson, M. (2019). Prehospital characteristics among patients with sepsis: a comparison between patients with or without adverse outcome. BMC emergency medicine, 19(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-019-0255-0
  • Sundler, AJ., Blomberg, K., Bisholt, B., Eklund, A., Windahl, J., Larsson, M. (2019) Experiences of supervision during clinical education among specialized nursing students in Sweden: a cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today, 79, 20-24. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.05.009
  • Håkansson Eklund, J., Holmström, IK., Ollén Lindqvist, A., Sundler, AJ., Hochwälder, J., Hammar Marmstål L. (2019) Empathy levels among nursing students: A comparative cross‐sectional study. Nursing open. 2019;00:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.280
  • Sundler, AJ., Lindberg, E., Nilsson, T., Palmer, L. (2019) Qualitative thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Nursing Open, 2019;00, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.275