[SPHPC Thematic Research Seminar Series] Health Literacy: Why Does It Matter and How Can We Improve It in the Digital Age?

Hosted by The JC School of Public Health and Primary Care (JCSPHPC) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the "SPHPC Thematic Research Seminar Series – Health Literacy: Why Does It Matter and How Can We Improve It in the Digital Age?" will take place on 20 May, 2025 (Tue).

In this seminar, Prof. Don Nutbeam, Professor of Public Health at University of Sydney, will explore the key factors influencing the evolution and present actionable strategies to address its challenges. He will also highlight the role of digital tools and AI-assisted communication in tackling health inequities, while identifying pressing research gaps and priorities for future exploration.

Please refer to the details below:

Date:	20 May 2025 (Tue)
Time:	12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Venue:	KCTCRC, 1/F, School of Public Health Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin
Mode:	In-person
Topic:	Health Literacy: Why Does It Matter and How Can We Improve It in the Digital Age?
Speaker:	Professor Don Nutbeam AO, FFPH, FAAHMS Executive Director, Sydney Health Partners and Professor of Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Moderator:	Professor Phoenix Mo Associate Professor, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Presentation Abstract

A majority of people in most countries in the world have practical difficulties in finding, understanding and using trustworthy information to make decisions about their health and health care. Poor health literacy has a major impact on public health, especially among those already most disadvantaged in our societies.

This presentation will describe the evolution of the concept of health literacy and the most important factors influencing individual and population health literacy levels. It will then review practical strategies to address poor health literacy. These involve both improvements to individual skills and capabilities as well as the organisational and system responses needed to make it easier for people to find, understand and use trustworthy health information.  The presentation will include consideration of established communication methods alongside examination of digital media and emerging AI-assisted communications and the policies and systems that support this.

Recognising that research remains underdeveloped, and effects of interventions on health inequity are largely untested, the workshop will also consider where the most important research gaps exist and where future health literacy research should be prioritised.

About the Speaker

Don Nutbeam is the Executive Director of Sydney Health Partners and a Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney. Sydney Health Partners is a NHMRC accredited Research Translation Centre (https://sydneyhealthpartners.org.au/). 

Don Nutbeam’s career has spanned senior leadership positions in universities, government, and health services. He has also made sustained contributions to international organisations including WHO and the World Bank. He was formerly President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, UK; Provost of the University of Sydney; and Head of Public Health for the UK Government. He is a public health scientist with research interests in the social and behavioural determinants of health, and in the development and evaluation of public health interventions. His current research focusses on the development and testing of interventions to improve health literacy in different populations.

Nutbeam was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to public health and higher education in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

About the Moderator

Dr. Phoenix Mo is a chartered psychologist of the British Psychological Society, a chartered scientist of the UK Science Council, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Hong Kong Psychological Society. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences (majoring in Psychology) at the University of Hong Kong, followed by an MSc in Health Psychology and Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Phoenix has an active interest in Health Psychology and Behavioral Health and her research interests are to explore the cognitive, social, and psychological aspects of disease prevention and management, mental health research and promotion among vulnerable or diseased populations, and the development of theory-based and evidence-based digital health interventions.

She has published more than 180 papers in peer-reviewed academic journals. She has obtained research grants from local government (e.g. Research Grants Council and Food and Health Bureau), mainland China (e.g. National Science of Foundation of China), and international organisation (e.g. Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research) as a principal investigator. These projects reflect her research interest, and comprehensive knowledge in the fields of behavioral health, mental health, and digital health.