Sydney Health Literacy Lab

Women’s screening preferences shift after being informed about the 2024 USPSTF breast cancer screening guideline In 2024 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its breast cancer screening (BCS) guidelines to recommend that all women scr…

Women’s screening preferences shift after being informed about the 2024 USPSTF breast cancer screening guideline - new paper by @tamarparmet.bsky.social @ldscherer.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social me & others
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073839912600114X?dgcid=coauthor

We commend Dr Monique Ryan for her efforts in parliament this week to raise awareness of the harms of problem gambling, and the urgency in tackling gambling harms as a public health issue.

@mon4kooyong.bsky.social

👂🌍 #WorldHearingDay

Today, we recognize the importance of #HearingHealth and the impact it has on #communication, connection, and quality of life. At our lab, we understand that hearing difficulties—whether from injury, illness, or age—can affect #rehabilitation and participation.

Science translation strategies to the public during health emergencies: A systematic review of RCTs Effective science translation is essential during public health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapidly evolving research had to be transla…

New 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...

Conference organisers standing in front of a slide that reads “digital health week 2026”

Keen 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 🛟 🧪

🦠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

Using Social Media for Public Health Communication to Young People: A Qualitative Study to Inform Emergency Preparedness The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of social media for official health communication, especially for young people who rarely engage with other public health agency channels. This study expl...

ICYMI: 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 🛟

Towards an international research agenda for public health advocacy: Practice, preparedness and knowledge gaps Advocacy is a core function of public health practice and is essential for advancing population health, whether by promoting preventative measures or encouraging evidence-based policy reform. However,...

📢New paper out📢: Towards an international research agenda for public health advocacy.
We surveyed 156 public health advocates in 36 countries to understand how advocacy is practised & where support is needed.
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Key findings were: (1/2)

Trust is a verb: how to reimagine confidence in health systems Trust in health, science, and public institutions has become a central concern in many countries (O’Doherty 2023, 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, Cologn

Reposted this earlier but have just read it. It's excellent.

academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

Today 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

Factors 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....

Evaluating 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/...

How 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.

When 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)

Proudly 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!

Beware the money trail and promises of femtech, experts warn It comes with a promise of empowerment, but tech that targets women does not always deliver.

Beware 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...

Disclosing 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/...

‘Shameful': hormone tests offer no value - Medical Republic Direct to consumer hormone panels risk misleading patients and undermining evidence-based practice, warn researchers.

Direct 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

Addressing 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

Congratulations Wiser Healthcare Researcher's identified in the World's Top 2% of Scientists by Elsevier/Stanford!

Check out the whole list here 👉 topscinet.com

Science translation strategies to the public during health emergencies: A systematic review of RCTs Effective science translation is essential during public health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapidly evolving research had to be transla…

This 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

Using Social Media for Public Health Communication to Young People: A Qualitative Study to Inform Emergency Preparedness The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of social media for official health communication, especially for young people who rarely engage with other public health agency channels. This study expl...

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.

More in thread & link :
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

#AcademicSky 🛟 🧪 🦘🎓

Using Social Media for Public Health Communication to Young People: A Qualitative Study to Inform Emergency Preparedness The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of social media for official health communication, especially for young people who rarely engage with other public health agency channels. This study expl...

✏️ 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....

PhD Recruitment for the social-ABI-lity Project We’re looking for a PhD student to join this exciting research project in the Acquired Brain Injury Lab! Focus areas: Brain injury, Social media, Co-design Interested? Get in touch with Liss! https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/melissa.brunner.html

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!

Our 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/...

New 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

Telling women that they have dense breasts may do more harm than good Leaves some women anxious and confused about their breast health and may increase demand on health services, say researchers

Should 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.

Interested 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
🛟 🦘🎓

Successful SMS trial paves way for national heart screening program A landmark trial has shown that SMS reminders boost Heart Health Checks by up to 15 times. Backed by the Heart Foundation and University of Sydney, the findings published in Lancet Primary Care streng...

Read more about our @sydney.edu.au team's role in study here: www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...