Sydney Health Literacy Lab
A research group in the School of Public Health at The University of Sydney.
Investigating health literacy to improve health outcomes for all.
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew paper out ✍️ We reviewed 48 #COVID-19 science translation RCTs and found a range of strategies & #BehaviourChange techniques in interventions. Studies were heterogenous…but using credible sources & interactive formats were effective for science translation www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabKeen to kick off #DigitalHealthWeek2026 at University of Sydney today! Looking forward to hearing from researchers, tech & health experts on “Digital Futures: Rethinking Health & Care”📱 @digitalhealthweek.bsky.social @sydney.edu.au @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au 🛟 🧪
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy Lab🦠Writing a story about emerging diseases, such as Nipah? 💬 Chat to our #EXPERTSPOTLIGHT Dr Alison Peel from @sydney.edu.au 😷 Alison can talk about disease spillover, emerging infectious diseases, disease ecology, virology and much more! 🔎 Find her details here: buff.ly/NaMsbKf
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabICYMI: New #PhD paper out! We interviewed 10 social media experts from Australian health departments & 11 young people about social media health communication, focussing on #COVID-19 experiences for future preparedness. Link: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #AcademicSky #HealthPolicy 🛟 🧪 🦘🎓
- 📢 Survey for all members of the general public We would really appreciate your help in improving how information about heart attacks is communicated. 🫀 Complete the 5-min survey: ucc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #HeartAttack #HealthHealth #HealthLiteracy #HealthCommunication #AcademicSky 🛟
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- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabReposted this earlier but have just read it. It's excellent. academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabToday in @mja.com.au: @tammyh.bsky.social & the Aus SDM Research Network argue embedding SDM in the health system is vital & urgent. Scaling SDM for all should be a national priority. www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/8/words-action-time-australia-take-shared-decision-making-implementation-seriously
- New Perspective in @mja.com.au by @tammyh.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social @margueritetracy.bsky.social & Australian SDM Research Network members including @dralanafisher.bsky.social @heather-shepherd.bsky.social @carissabonner.bsky.social me & more! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabFactors Associated With Implementation of Biomarker Testing and Strategies to Improve Its Clinical Uptake in Cancer Care: Systematic Review Using Theoretical Domains Framework | JCO Precision Oncology ascopubs.org/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabEvaluating the use of text-message reminders and personalised text-message reminders on the return of participant questionnaires in trials, a systematic review and meta-analysis - Laura Doherty et al, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabHow does oncologists’ communication affect patients’ well-being and online health information seeking? – A randomized experiment by Henkel et al in PEC www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Clinicians advised to emphasize collaborative info exchange and guide patients to trustworthy online sources.
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabWhen people get info re breast cancer screening that conflicts with past messages, they may lose trust in the healthcare system - underscores importance of consistent messages. @tamarparmet.bsky.social @ldscherer.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... (ICYMI)
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabProudly part of 2 ECR teams winning @wiserhealthcare.bsky.social Publication Pitch awards! w/ Swee Sharma, Christian Longtin, Jeremy Chang. 1pg Patient Fact Sheets for Low Back Pain... jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... & w/ Dee Ackermann, Ellie Medcalf, Karen Bracken. PAPER IN PRESS - stay tuned!
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabBeware the money trail & promises of femtech, experts warn. Great to be part of a recent session on commercial determinants of health where Prof Barbara Mintzes talked about how femtech builds on language from women’s liberation but misuses it for commercial purposes. www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/he...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabDisclosing the Decision to Decline Breast Screening and/or Breast Cancer Treatment Due to Concerns About Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment by @dr-skcj.bsky.social et al. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabDirect to consumer hormone panels risk misleading patients and undermining evidence-based practice, warn researchers. Medical Republic article by @apshepp.bsky.social www.medicalrepublic.com.au/shameful-hor... @wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabAddressing the Challenges of Online Misinformation & Unregulated Products in the Clinical Management of Menopause - Commentary by @drjengunter.bsky.social journals.lww.com/greenjournal... @wiserhealthcare.bsky.social @tessacopp.bsky.social @brookenickel.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabCongratulations Wiser Healthcare Researcher's identified in the World's Top 2% of Scientists by Elsevier/Stanford! Check out the whole list here 👉 topscinet.com
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabThis paper wraps up my COVID-19 program of work: a systematic review of science translation RCTs in the emergency phase of COVID-19, informed by discussions with a global WHO community of practice www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @newsroomusyd.bsky.social @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew #PhD paper out! 📢 We interviewed 10 social media experts from Australian health departments & 11 young people about social media health communication, focussing on #COVID-19 experiences for future preparedness. More in thread & link : www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #AcademicSky 🛟 🧪 🦘🎓
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View full threadReposted by Sydney Health Literacy Lab✏️ How can we improve social media health communication with young people in the next big emergency? Co-create messages for young people, with young people. 🤝 Study here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabWe’re looking for a PhD student to join the social-ABI-lity research project in the @abicommlab.bsky.social! 👉 Focus areas: 🧠 Brain injury 📱 Social Media 🤝 Co-design 💡 Interested? Get in touch with me to find out more!
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabOur trial published in @bmj.com found that women notified about their dense breast were more confused and anxious, and did not feel more informed to make decisions about their breast health. It also led to higher intentions to seek further advice from their GPs. www.bmj.com/content/391/...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew research in @bmj.com This study led by @brookenickel.bsky.social found women who were told they had dense breasts were more anxious, didn't feel more informed, and had greater intentions to seek out their GP lnkd.in/gVZw6nid Affiliations: @sydney.edu.au @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabShould women be told about their high breast density – a known risk factor for #BreastCancer – as part of #mammography screening? A new study led by @brookenickel.bsky.social from 🇦🇺 @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au at @sydney.edu.au, and published by @bmj.com warns of unintended effects.
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabInterested in a #PhD at the University of Sydney? 🤔 My fabulous colleague Dr Liss Brunner is looking for a new student for her social media & brain injury project 🧠📱 @lissbee.bsky.social @sydney.edu.au @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au @abicommlab.bsky.social 🛟 🦘🎓
- We’re looking for a PhD student to join the social-ABI-lity research project in the @abicommlab.bsky.social! 👉 Focus areas: 🧠 Brain injury 📱 Social Media 🤝 Co-design 💡 Interested? Get in touch with me to find out more!
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabRead more about our @sydney.edu.au team's role in study here: www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabHow can we increase heart health checks? Our new paper in @lancetprimarycare.bsky.social shows >70,000 health literacy-sensitive SMS sent from GPs increased heart health checks by 15 times the usual rate - paving the way for a targeted risk screening model in Australia. @newsroomusyd.bsky.social
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View full threadReposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabRead more about how the @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au tested different "nudge" SMS approaches to close health literacy gaps here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabLearn more about the resources here: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/onlinehealth...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew paper alert! Our online trial found that brief, co-designed resources can boost knowledge and help people make safer choices when using AI for health advice. This is a first step towards building AI health literacy for everyone. Read at npj Digital Medicine: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabComparing traditional & AI-enhanced strategies for developing patient decision aids: a multiple case study by @anikgiguere.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social @julieayre.bsky.social et al just out in BMJ EBM ebm.bmj.com/content/earl... @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au @isdmsociety.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy Lab📢 Health Literacy & Communication Open has 4 new papers published in April, including adolescent engagement in online health education, readability of patient medicine info, parent & digital #healthliteracy. You can find all 18 papers in our current issue here: www.tandfonline.com/toc/rhlc20/3/1
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew paper exploring psychosocial needs for people living with congenital heart disease. We need better communication tailored to health literacy & independence for young people as they transition to adult care, and ongoing support to manage life impacts. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabSo proud of Dr @melodytaba.bsky.social, awarded her PhD with no emendations! Her carefully codesigned framework will improve government health communication with young people, so we are better prepared for future emergencies. More here: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/social-media...
- #PhDone! Super excited to announce I’ve been awarded my PhD with no emendations! Excited for the next chapter at the Sydney Health Literacy Lab where I’ll continue researching young people and digital health literacy as a postdoc 💫 @sydney.edu.au @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social #AcademicSky
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabComing soon... @isdmsociety.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew Perspective in @mja.com.au by @tammyh.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social @margueritetracy.bsky.social & Australian SDM Research Network members including @dralanafisher.bsky.social @heather-shepherd.bsky.social @carissabonner.bsky.social me & more! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/...
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabI spent World Heart Day working with the Agency for Clinical Innovation, NAATSIHWP and the Heart Foundation to support Heart Health Checks in Australia. Your GP is the best place to start - talk to them about your risk and how you can prevent heart attack and stroke.
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabGreat to be part of this discussion on national implementation priorities for shared decision making - which has been beautifully summarised here in a @mja.com.au paper led by @tammyh.bsky.social. @isdmsociety.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabGreat to see our national survey of consumer preferences about blood pressure medication featured in Pharmacy Daily! www.pharmacydaily.com.au/news/patient... @sydney.edu.au @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabRead the #WorldEBHCDay blog by Dr Karen Gainey, who discusses plain language summaries and how important they are for anyone wanting to access reliable #HealthResearch that is written in a way that even non-experts can understand. 👇 ow.ly/IZyc50XcSFt Sydney Health Literacy Lab #Research
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabSuper excited to be part of this study on social media marketing of women’s health interventions! We’ve focussed on 5 interventions targeting women across the lifespan like: #BoricAcidSuppositories, #FertilityTests, #MenopauseTests, #MenopauseTreatments and #HormoneTherapies. Results coming soon!🤩
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- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabJust-published study protocol for work in progress! @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au @brookenickel.bsky.social @tessacopp.bsky.social @emmagram.bsky.social @kmcfadden.bsky.social @jenna-smith.bsky.social @melodytaba.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e76750/
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabNew paper exploring how we could better support the transition from paediatric to adult care for adolescents with congenital heart disease, to ensure high quality care continues throughout their life: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @sydney.edu.au @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabMisinformation about health is flooding social media, exposing the limits of current regulations and interventions. In this scoping review, we highlight key challenges and gaps in the current landscape: ebm.bmj.com/content/earl... @brookenickel.bsky.social @sydney.edu.au @ucph.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabShared decision making for screening Screening & risk assessment for health conditions may entail an array of benefits & harms. This overview of SDM uses cancer & CVD risk as examples of organized vs opportunistic screening. doi.org/10.1093/med/... @tuftejet.bsky.social @carissabonner.bsky.social
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabQuick follow-up post confirming it's out! Oxford Textbook of Shared Decision Making in Healthcare 4th Edition including... Chapter 42: SDM for screening! - by me, Rikke Nicoline Stokholm, @tuftejet.bsky.social & @carissabonner.bsky.social global.oup.com/academic/pro... Available in print / e-book
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- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabHow to Report Research on the Communication of Health-Related Numbers: The Research on Communicating Numbers (ReCoN) Guidelines journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.... @smdm.bsky.social @bzikmund.bsky.social @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au
- Reposted by Sydney Health Literacy LabMy @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au @wiserhealthcare.bsky.social @sydney.edu.au colleague @jenna-smith.bsky.social is doing this fellowship in Berlin right now, and it sounds fantastic! Check it out!
- Apply online by November 1st! Wiko Early Career Call for fellowships 2026/27 in the #NaturalSciences and #LifeSciences. Gain time to think during a 3–5 month #fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin – Institute for Advanced Study: wiko-berlin.de/fellow-werde... #cfa
