Her research is concerned with peoples' experiences of physical dependency with a special focus on the phenomenon of assisted feeding. She has investigated this phenomenon among people in their own homes as well as among patients admitted to hospital. Martinsen has studied caregivers' experiences of assisting people with feeding in a hospital context. Methodologically, her particular interests are phenomenology and hermeneutics. Her work is informed by phenomenological research approaches and the resulting methodological implications. E-mail address: BM@sygeplejevid.au.dk