About me

I am associate professor/docent in rehabilitation medicine with special focus on occupational therapy at the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University. Year 2007 I defended my doctoral thesis at the Division of Occupational Therapy at KI. I have experience in teaching and supervising at undergraduate, advanced and doctoral level, especially at the Occupational Therapy program. I am affiliated as researcher to the HELD group at KI and have a position as research and development leader at University Hospital (Akademiska sjukhuset) in Uppsala.

Research description

My research is mainly focused on people with stroke and their everyday lives, but I also study persons with other neurological disorders and their experiences of and participation in everyday occupations. I have developed and am evaluating a rehabilitation programme addressing return to work for persons with stroke in working ages. Further, I am part of the development of a person-centered rehabilitation programme for return to work for persons with spinal cord injury. In these projects I have been inspired by and used the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines for developing and evaluating complex interventions. My research projects have in common that they focus on the importance of and the effects of person-centered rehabilitation. I have used both quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore this area of research and have been main supervisor as well as co-supervisor to several doctoral students. An ongoing research project I am contributing in is conducted in Sweden and Uganda and focuses on multidisciplinary global studies of the effects and significance of ADL interventions using information and communication technologies such as mobile phones as support. Another area of my research is the development of the assessment instrument Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ) that measures participation in everyday occupations. The instrument development started within my thesis and the OGQ has been tested psychometrically and has been developed further. The last decade the instrument has been translated and culturally adapted to several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia and has been used in new target groups both nationally and internationally.

Publications

Hodson T,  Wall B, Gustafsson L, Eriksson G, Cornwell P (2020): Occupational engagement following mild stroke in the Australian context using the Occupational Gaps Questionnaire, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy [Epub 2020 Jan 6]  https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2019.1709541

Guidetti S, Utbult M, Kamwesiga J, Eriksson G. Perceived occupational gaps among the Ugandan general population — a pilot study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2019; 49 (3): 17-23.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2019/vol49n3a4

Eriksson C, Eriksson G, Johansson U, Guidetti S. Occupational therapists' perceptions of implementing a client-centered intervention in close collaboration with researchers: A mixed methods study. Scand J Occup Ther. 2019 Mar 24:1-12. [Epub ahead of print]

Fors U, Kamwesiga JT, Eriksson GM, von Koch L, Guidetti S. User evaluation of a novel SMS-based reminder system for supporting post-stroke rehabilitation. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2019 19:122

Gustavsson M, Guidetti S, Eriksson G, von Koch L, Ytterberg C. Factors affecting outcome in participation one year after stroke: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2019;51(3):160-166. [Epub ahead of print] Feb 28 2019.

Hedman A, Eriksson G, von Koch L, Guidetti S.Five-year follow-up of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a client-centred activities of daily living intervention for people with stroke. Clin Rehabil.  2019;33:262-276.

Lawrence M, Asaba E, Duncan E, Elf M, Eriksson G, Faulkner J, Guidetti S, Johansson B, Kruuse C, Lambrick D, Longman C, von Koch L, Wang X, Lennon O. Stroke secondary prevention, a non-surgical and non-pharmacological consensus definition: results of a Delphi study. BMC Res Notes. 2019 Dec 23;12(1):823. 

Teriö M, Eriksson G, Kamwesiga JT, Guidetti S. What's in it for me? A process evaluation of the implementation of a mobile phone-supported intervention after stroke in Uganda. BMC Public Health. 2019 May 14;19(1):562. 

Öst Nilsson A, Eriksson G, Asaba E, Johansson U, Hellman T. Being a co-worker or a manager of a colleague returning to work after stroke: A challenge facilitated by cooperation and flexibility. Scand J Occup Ther. 2019 Jan 29:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]

Kamwesiga J, Eriksson G, Tham K, Fors U, Ndiwalana A, von Koch L, Guidetti S. A feasibility study of a mobile phone supported family-centred ADL intervention, F@ce™, after stroke in Uganda. Globalization and Health 2018;14:82.

Kamwesiga J, von Koch L, Eriksson G, Guidetti S. The impact of stroke on people living in central Uganda: A descriptive study. African Journal of Disability November 29th, 2018 [Epub ahead of print]

Tistad M, Flink M, Ytterberg C, Eriksson G, Guidetti S, Tham K, von Koch L. Resource use of healthcare services 1 year after stroke: a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of a client-centred activities of daily living intervention. BMJ Open. 2018 Aug 5;8(8):e022222. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022222

Bergström A, Guidetti S, Tham K, Eriksson G. Association between satisfaction and participation in everyday occupations after stroke. Scand J Occup Ther. 2017 Sep;24(5):339-348. doi: 10.1080/11038128.2016.1245782. Epub 2016 Oct 23

Holmlund L, Guidetti S, Eriksson G, Asaba E. Return to work in the context of everyday life 7-11 years after spinal cord injury - a follow-up study. Disabil Rehabil. 2017 Aug 9:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1362597. 

Ytterberg C, Dybäck M, Bergström A, Guidetti S, Eriksson G. Perceived impact of stroke six years after onset, and changes in impact between one and six years. J Rehabil Med. 2017 Aug 31;49(8):637-643. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2258

Bergström A, Guidetti S, Tham K, Eriksson G. Association between satisfaction and participation in everyday occupations after stroke. Scand J Occup Ther. 2016 Oct 23:1-10.

Elf M, Eriksson G, Johansson S, von Koch L, Ytterberg C. Self-Reported Fatigue and Associated Factors Six Years after Stroke. PLoS One. 2016 Aug 30;11(8):e0161942

Hellman T, Bergstrom A, Eriksson G, Hansen Falkdal A, Johansson U. Return to work after stroke – important factors shared and contrasted by five stakeholder groups. Work (2016) 901–911. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-162455

Öst Nilsson A, Eriksson G, Johansson U, Hellman T. Experiences of the return to work process after stroke while participating in a person-centred rehabilitation programme. Scand J Occup Ther. 2016 Nov 11:1-8.

Bergström A,  Eriksson G, Asaba E, Erikson A, Tham K. Complex negotiations: The lived experience of enacting agency after a stroke. Scand J Occup Ther : 2015 Jan;22(1):43-53. doi: 10.3109/11038128.2014.954611

Matuseviciene G, Eriksson G, Nygren DeBoussard C. No effect of an early intervention after mild traumatic brain injury on activity and participation – a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 48(1):19-26, 2016 Jan.  doi: 10.2340/16501977-2025

Bergström A, von Koch L, Andersson M, Tham K,  Eriksson G. Participation in everyday life and life satisfaction in persons with stroke and their caregivers 3-6 months after onset.  J Rehabil Med 2015:47;508-15.  [Epub ahead of print] Apr 16. doi: 10.2340/16501977-1964

Bertilsson AS, Eriksson G, Ekstam L, Tham K,  Andersson M, von Koch L, Johansson U. A cluster randomized controlled trial of a client-centred, activities of daily living intervention for people with stroke: One year follow-up of caregivers. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Sep 22. pii: 0269215515603780. [Epub ahead of print]

Ekstam L, Johansson U, Guidetti S, Eriksson G, Ytterberg C. The combined perceptions of people with stroke and their carers regarding rehabilitation needs 1 year after stroke: a mixed methods study BMJ Open 2015;5:e006784

Bertilsson A, Ranner M, von Koch L, Eriksson G, Johansson U, Ytterberg C, Guidetti S, Tham K. A client-centred ADL intervention: 3-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.  Scand J Occup Ther  2014 Sep;21(5):377-91

Guidetti S, Ytterberg C, Ekstam L, Johansson U, Eriksson G.  Changes in the impact of stroke between 3 and 12 months post-stroke, assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale. J Rehabil Med. 2014 Nov 4;46(10):963-8 doi: 10.2340/16501977-1865.

Eriksson G, Tham K, Kottorp A. A cross-diagnostic validation of an instrument measuring participation in everyday occupations: the Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ). Scand J Occup Ther 2013;20:152-60.  

Eriksson G, Baum MC, Wolf TJ, Connor LT. Perceived participation after stroke: The influence of activity retention, reintegration, and perceived recovery. Am J Occup Ther 2013;67:131-8.

Bergstrom AL, Guidetti S, Tistad M, Tham K,  von Koch L, Eriksson G. Perceived occupational gaps one year after stroke: An explorative study. J Rehabil Med. 2012;44(1):36-42.

Eriksson G, Aasnes M, Tistad M, Guidetti S, von Koch L. Occupational gaps in everyday life one year after stroke and the association with life satisfaction and impact of stroke.Top Stroke Rehabil. 2012 May-Jun;19(3):244-55.

Eriksson T, Jonsson H, Tham K, Eriksson G. A comparison of perceived occupational gaps between people with stress-related ill health or musculoskeletal pain and a reference group Scand J Occup Ther. 2012;19:411-420.

Bergstrom AL, Eriksson G, von Koch L,Tham K. Combined life satisfaction of persons with stroke and their caregivers: associations with caregiver burden and the impact of stroke. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2011 Jan 11;9(1):1. 

Eriksson G, Chung J, Lim Hua Beng, Hartman-Maeir A, Eunyoung Yoo, Orellano E, van Nes F,  de Jonge D,  Baum C. Exploring occupations of older adults: A cross cultural description. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health 2011; 31,182-192

Fallahpour M, Tham K, Taghi Joghataei M, Eriksson G, Jonsson H. Occupational Gaps in everyday life after stroke and the relation to functioning and perceived life satisfaction OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health 2011;31: 200-208.

Eriksson G, Tham K. The meaning of occupational gaps in the first year after stroke OTJR Occupation,Participation and Health 2010;30:184-192. 

Eriksson G, Kottorp A, Borg J, Tham K. Relationship between occupational gaps in everyday life, depressive mood and life satisfaction after acquired brain injury.  J Rehabil Med 2009;41:187-94.  

Eriksson G, Tham K, Borg J. Occupational gaps in everyday life 1-4 years after acquired brain injury. J Rehabil Med 2006;38:159-165

Eriksson G, Tham K, Fugl-Meyer AR. Couples' happiness and its relationship to functioning in everyday life after brain injury. Scand J Occup Ther 2005;12:40-48.

Book chapters

Eriksson GM, Johansson U, von Koch L. Returning to work after stroke.  In: Wilson R, Raghavan P, editors. Stroke rehabilitation. St Louis Missouri: Elsevier; 2019, p. 215-223.

Eriksson G, Lilja M, Jonsson H, Peterson I, Tatzer V. Occupations of Elderhood. In: Occupational Therapy, Performance, Participation and Well-Being, fourth edition (Eds:  Christiansen C, Baum C, Bass J).2014, Slack Incorporated, NJ, USA.

Manuals

Eriksson G. GAP I vardagens aktiviteter-självskattning av vad en person vill göra och faktiskt gör, (Version 2.0/2017). Sveriges Arbetsterapeuter, Box 760, 131 24 Nacka.

Eriksson G, Margot Cattin I,  Kuhne N, Hammar E, Dumoulin D, Kottorp A, Nygård L. Manuel de passation de l'Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ-CH-Fr), Version Suisse romande / 2017.

https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F321796570_Manuel_de_passation_de_l%27Occupational_Gaps_Questionnaire_OGQ-CHFr_Version_Suisse_romande_2017&data=02%7C01%7Cgunilla.eriksson%40ki.se%7Caf1f959c24e5497bf92208d7857cea47%7Cbff7eef1cf4b4f32be3da1dda043c05d%7C0%7C0%7C637124643864871919&sdata=xv22w%2FeT1jPCvr4noPR86Pg5C%2FW17bYS%2FjwTCvnb7%2Bw%3D&reserved=0

Eriksson G. Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ). Version 2.0/2020. Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists, Sveriges Arbetsterapeuter, Box 170, Nacka.