Christina Reuther

Short presentation

I am a PhD student in medical science in the research group CIRCLE at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Healthat Uppsala University, researching low-intensity CBT-based self-help programmes for parents of children treated for cancer. I am a member of U-CARE, a research program aiming to increase psychological wellbeing among patients and close ones living with a somatic disease.

Phone number: 018-471 65 73

Keywords

• Childhood cancer
• Mental health
• Intervention
• Public contribution
• Wellbeing
• Parents
• CBT
• Self-help programme

Biography

I hold a bachelor's degree in nutrition from Karolinska Institute and a master's degree in public health science from Stockholm University. Since 2020, I have been working at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, first as a research assistant and then as a project coordinator. In 2023, I began my doctoral studies focusing on psychological support for parents of children treated for cancer. Alongside my research, I teach on the doctoral-level course Public Contribution at Uppsala University, which focuses on how patients and the public can be involved in research.

I hold several positions of trust at the department. I am currently the doctoral student representative in the PhD education group (FUG), a deputy member of the department board, and a member of the working environment and equal opportunities group. Previously, I served as the doctoral student representative on the department board and on the recruitment group for the head of department. I have also reviewed a number of scientific articles, including articles in BMC Public Involvement and Engagement, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Supportive Care in Cancer, Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, Frontiers in Psychology, and Journal of Cancer Survivorship. In 2025, I received travel grant from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund (Barncancerfonden).

Research

In my doctoral project, we develop and evaluate EJDeR, a self-help programme for parents of children treated for cancer. EJDeR was originally developed as an internet-administered self-help programme and has since been adapted into a format delivered through workbooks, audio files, and videos, supported by weekly telephone calls with a trained parent guide.

The research spans from a feasibility trial (ENGAGE) to a pilot randomized controlled trial (CHANGE-pilot), both conducted within the research programme ParentsCan. ParentsCan aims to increase access to psychological support for parents of children diagnosed with cancer, thereby improving parental mental health.

The EJDeR-programme and study procedures have been developed in close collaboration with advisory groups of parents of individuals treated for cancer during childhood, whose experiences and perspectives shape the research process.

My publications include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies within psychosocial oncology.

I have presented my research at international and national conferences, including the SIOP Congress in Amsterdam (2025) and the U-CARE Venue in Uppsala (2023, 2025).