Prized in Budapest: “A great grade for the relevance of our research”
Five questions with doctoral student Josefin Larsson, who won an award for the best poster in the pain syndromes category at the Pain in Europe congress.
Among 956 posters, yours was one of the four awarded at the European Pain Federation’s yearly congress in Budapest. How did it feel?
“Incredibly fun, of course! It’s a great acknowledgment of the relevance of the research we conduct. It can also be a confirmation for individuals living with long-term endometriosis-related pain that their experiences matter to us as researchers,” says Josefin Larsson, a doctoral student in anesthesiology and intensive care who works as a clinical nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg.
Endometriosis involves the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus, leading to pain. Why did you choose to raise awareness about this particular condition?
“It’s a patient group where many people suffer tremendously, and their lives are often profoundly affected by the pain. Although awareness of endometriosis has increased in recent years, both among healthcare professionals and the general public, there is still a significant need to spread knowledge.”
“Clearly nerve-wracking”
What was it like to perform and speak in such a large setting?
“There were several thousand pain researchers at the congress, so it was undoubtedly nerve-wracking. The poster I presented was also part of a poster walk, where I summarized the study in about five minutes in front of small groups and answered questions. I benefited greatly from my experiences in the Three Minute Thesis competition that I participated in at the International Science Festival in Gothenburg earlier this year.”
What else did you find most interesting at the congress?
“The theme of this year’s congress was ‘Personalized Pain Management: The Future Is Now.’ A hugely important theme that was also reflected in many lectures. It was great to see a variety of healthcare professionals represented among the speakers, including physiotherapists, physicians, nurses, psychologists, and even patient representatives. You get the latest findings in pain research and treatment from many different perspectives.”
Electrical Nerve Stimulation
What is your doctoral thesis about, and when do you expect to defend it?
“My dissertation work is about endometriosis -related chronic pain and how to treat it using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. I’m currently in my second year as a part-time doctoral student and aiming for a defense in 2027 or 2028.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg
