Best thesis of 2025 in anaesthesia and intensive care
Anahita Amirpour at the Division of Nursing has received the award for the best thesis of 2025 at SFAI and AnIva Week.
The Swedish Association for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (SFAI), together with the National Association for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (AnIva) and local host clinics, organises this annual scientific congress for healthcare professionals working in anaesthesia and intensive care in Sweden.
Anahita Amirpour defended her thesis, “Assessment and Identification of Cognitive Changes after Surgery in Older Adults”, in November last year.
– I am pleased that my thesis is being recognised, and that it is receiving acknowledgement within the field, says Anahita Amirpour. I was both surprised and happy when I found out I would receive the award.
– And it was lovely to read the jury’s kind citation, she concludes.
The jury’s statement for Thesis of the Year:
“Assessment and Identification of Cognitive Changes after Surgery in Older Adults” by Anahita Amirpour
The thesis highlights postoperative cognitive impairment in older people – a clinically significant but still insufficiently explored area within perioperative care. By examining methods for assessing postoperative cognitive changes and the importance of psychological factors for cognitive outcomes, the thesis contributes new knowledge in an area where there are major knowledge gaps.
By combining objective cognitive tests with individuals’ own experiences of cognitive changes after surgery, the thesis offers a new perspective on postoperative cognitive outcomes. The findings contribute to a better understanding of factors that affect recovery, independence and quality of life, and raise important new research questions.
The thesis is highly relevant to nurses in perioperative care, through its focus on assessment, monitoring and follow-up of older patients. This knowledge can support person-centred and well-founded clinical decisions for a growing group of older and frail patients.
By evaluating a digital cognitive screening tool, the thesis demonstrates clear clinical applicability. The findings may contribute to earlier identification of patients at risk of cognitive impairment and thereby to improved care, follow-up and use of resources within health care.