Kirsten McCaffery
@kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social
Professor in health literacy and shared decision making. Director Sydney Health Literacy Lab. President International Shared Decision Making Society.
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Ending social injustice requires determined action from everyone. Here are 3 things you can do:
📢 Speak up against discrimination
🤝 Support community organizations that provide essential services like food, supportive housing & job training
🌍 Engage in climate action
📢 Speak up against discrimination
🤝 Support community organizations that provide essential services like food, supportive housing & job training
🌍 Engage in climate action
May 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Ending social injustice requires determined action from everyone. Here are 3 things you can do:
📢 Speak up against discrimination
🤝 Support community organizations that provide essential services like food, supportive housing & job training
🌍 Engage in climate action
📢 Speak up against discrimination
🤝 Support community organizations that provide essential services like food, supportive housing & job training
🌍 Engage in climate action
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Vaccines are rigorously tested, effective, and save lives. More than 150 million lives have been saved in the past 50 years thanks to vaccines!
But you may be worried about what's in them.
So, let’s break it down. ⬇
Check out the latest episode of Plot Twist.
youtube.com/shorts/TH1kz...
But you may be worried about what's in them.
So, let’s break it down. ⬇
Check out the latest episode of Plot Twist.
youtube.com/shorts/TH1kz...
What’s in a vaccine?
YouTube video by World Health Organization (WHO)
youtube.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Vaccines are rigorously tested, effective, and save lives. More than 150 million lives have been saved in the past 50 years thanks to vaccines!
But you may be worried about what's in them.
So, let’s break it down. ⬇
Check out the latest episode of Plot Twist.
youtube.com/shorts/TH1kz...
But you may be worried about what's in them.
So, let’s break it down. ⬇
Check out the latest episode of Plot Twist.
youtube.com/shorts/TH1kz...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
A gobsmacking story. Water companies let toxic waste disposers, for cash, dump their loads into sewage farms. The sewage sludge is then spread, untested, on farmland, potentially poisoning vast areas, entire ecosystems and the people (you and me) eating the food.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What’s in the millions of tonnes of sludge sprayed on to farmland? The answer won’t make you happy | George Monbiot
Thanks to breathtaking negligence, the liquid fertiliser used to help grow our food bubbles with a lethal cocktail of toxins, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
A gobsmacking story. Water companies let toxic waste disposers, for cash, dump their loads into sewage farms. The sewage sludge is then spread, untested, on farmland, potentially poisoning vast areas, entire ecosystems and the people (you and me) eating the food.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Everyone has the right to quality health care!
People with #DownSyndrome must be able to access the health care they need - without stigma & discrimination - incl.:
👩⚕️regular check-ups
ℹ️ information on health promotion
💪quality & affordable services that support happy, healthy lives
bit.ly/41HLpOL
People with #DownSyndrome must be able to access the health care they need - without stigma & discrimination - incl.:
👩⚕️regular check-ups
ℹ️ information on health promotion
💪quality & affordable services that support happy, healthy lives
bit.ly/41HLpOL
March 21, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Everyone has the right to quality health care!
People with #DownSyndrome must be able to access the health care they need - without stigma & discrimination - incl.:
👩⚕️regular check-ups
ℹ️ information on health promotion
💪quality & affordable services that support happy, healthy lives
bit.ly/41HLpOL
People with #DownSyndrome must be able to access the health care they need - without stigma & discrimination - incl.:
👩⚕️regular check-ups
ℹ️ information on health promotion
💪quality & affordable services that support happy, healthy lives
bit.ly/41HLpOL
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
The UK would now want to rejoin the EU by 55% to 33%
Removing those that don’t know - that’s a 62.5% to 37.5% breakdown.
Removing those that don’t know - that’s a 62.5% to 37.5% breakdown.
March 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The UK would now want to rejoin the EU by 55% to 33%
Removing those that don’t know - that’s a 62.5% to 37.5% breakdown.
Removing those that don’t know - that’s a 62.5% to 37.5% breakdown.
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
A friend drove two hours today for her breast cancer chemotherapy only to learn it was canceled due to NIH cuts. Clinical trial ended midstream. No treatment, no restart, no plan, no information. Her bro-in-law's chemo was also canceled.
March 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A friend drove two hours today for her breast cancer chemotherapy only to learn it was canceled due to NIH cuts. Clinical trial ended midstream. No treatment, no restart, no plan, no information. Her bro-in-law's chemo was also canceled.
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Risk perception of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and their healthcare practitioners: The importance of histopathological terminology, and the gaps in our knowledge.
Riggi et al. note most studies are from the Anglosphere. www.hh.um.es/Abstracts/Vol_40/40_3/40_3_297.htm
Riggi et al. note most studies are from the Anglosphere. www.hh.um.es/Abstracts/Vol_40/40_3/40_3_297.htm
Histol Histopathol, Vol 40, Riggi et al.
www.hh.um.es
March 17, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Risk perception of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and their healthcare practitioners: The importance of histopathological terminology, and the gaps in our knowledge.
Riggi et al. note most studies are from the Anglosphere. www.hh.um.es/Abstracts/Vol_40/40_3/40_3_297.htm
Riggi et al. note most studies are from the Anglosphere. www.hh.um.es/Abstracts/Vol_40/40_3/40_3_297.htm
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Read our MJA Insight+ article about @melodytaba.bsky.social's PhD research with @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social - outlining 5 things you can do to engage young people in social media communication about health: insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/10/how-...
How to use social media for health communication with young people - InSight+
With 82% of young people using social media for health information, it’s increasingly important for health professionals to cut through online misinformation with reliable and appealing social media h...
insightplus.mja.com.au
March 17, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Read our MJA Insight+ article about @melodytaba.bsky.social's PhD research with @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social - outlining 5 things you can do to engage young people in social media communication about health: insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/10/how-...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
In fiscal year 2024, the report found, NIH awarded more than $36.9 billion to researchers, supporting more than 408,000 jobs and generating over $94.5 billion in new economic activity nationwide.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
NIH funding delivers exponential economic returns — Harvard Gazette
Report finds all 50 states reap gains in patient health, job creation, research resources, business development.
news.harvard.edu
March 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
In fiscal year 2024, the report found, NIH awarded more than $36.9 billion to researchers, supporting more than 408,000 jobs and generating over $94.5 billion in new economic activity nationwide.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
✅ WHO does not impose lockdowns or policies on countries. It does not have the authority to do this and isn't trying to get it.
Only governments can make those decisions.
Know the facts ⬇️
Only governments can make those decisions.
Know the facts ⬇️
March 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
✅ WHO does not impose lockdowns or policies on countries. It does not have the authority to do this and isn't trying to get it.
Only governments can make those decisions.
Know the facts ⬇️
Only governments can make those decisions.
Know the facts ⬇️
Congratulations @melodytaba on another great paper
Fantastic new paper from @melodytaba.bsky.social ! What a wonderful example of codesign!
🎉 New PhD paper out now!
We co-designed 5 recommendations with young people and health communicators for social media health communication to young people!
Read the full article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵for more ⬇️
We co-designed 5 recommendations with young people and health communicators for social media health communication to young people!
Read the full article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🧵for more ⬇️
March 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Congratulations @melodytaba on another great paper
Great piece on medicalisation
"When a medical problem is part of a person’s identity, it becomes inescapable."
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
The number of people with chronic conditions is soaring. Are we less healthy than we used to be – or overdiagnosing illness?
Are ordinary life experiences, bodily imperfections and normal differences being unnecessarily pathologised? One doctor argues just that
www.theguardian.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Great piece on medicalisation
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Trump and Musk are going after Social Security, Medicaid, the VA, and public education.
In what universe, in what world, in what religion is it morally acceptable to cut programs for hungry children in order to reward the wealthy?
In what universe, in what world, in what religion is it morally acceptable to cut programs for hungry children in order to reward the wealthy?
March 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Trump and Musk are going after Social Security, Medicaid, the VA, and public education.
In what universe, in what world, in what religion is it morally acceptable to cut programs for hungry children in order to reward the wealthy?
In what universe, in what world, in what religion is it morally acceptable to cut programs for hungry children in order to reward the wealthy?
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Great to see @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social PhD student Sumathy Ravi's umbrella review including 30 virtual care diabetes reviews is out today! Virtual care can improve diabetes management, but we need better study design to know if video consultations work. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Effect of virtual care in type 2 diabetes management – a systematic umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis - BMC Health Services Research
Background Diabetes is an increasingly prevalent and costly chronic disease worldwide, and a large cause of unnecessary disease burden. To address the growing burden of diabetes, care models should su...
link.springer.com
March 7, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Great to see @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social PhD student Sumathy Ravi's umbrella review including 30 virtual care diabetes reviews is out today! Virtual care can improve diabetes management, but we need better study design to know if video consultations work. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.
March 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.
I did not know this - switching over right now…. @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
Remember, EuropePMC is actually better than #PubMed because it includes ALL preprints in search results, not just those including NIH-funded research.
europepmc.org
europepmc.org
Europe PMCHome - Europe PMC
Europe PMC is an archive of life sciences journal literature.
europepmc.org
March 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I did not know this - switching over right now…. @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Of the 4000 researchers at NIH, only 20% are tenured. They’re going to fire all the rest as their contracts come up for renewal, absolutely decimating research at the NIH. This is catastrophic, not just for Americans, but for the whole world.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH ban on renewing senior scientists adds to assaults on its in-house research
Policy follows firings of tenure-track scientists and suspension of training programs
www.science.org
February 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Of the 4000 researchers at NIH, only 20% are tenured. They’re going to fire all the rest as their contracts come up for renewal, absolutely decimating research at the NIH. This is catastrophic, not just for Americans, but for the whole world.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Congrats Melody!! Superstar! It's been an absolute pleasure :)
Finally submitted my PhD after three and half years of study!
I’m currently overwhelmed with feelings but just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey, especially my incredible supervisors A/Prof Carissa Bonner, Dr Julie Ayre & Prof Kirsten McCaffery ❤️
I’m currently overwhelmed with feelings but just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey, especially my incredible supervisors A/Prof Carissa Bonner, Dr Julie Ayre & Prof Kirsten McCaffery ❤️
March 1, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Congrats Melody!! Superstar! It's been an absolute pleasure :)
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
🚨 Drastic cuts to global health funding are leaving millions without essential HIV services. Young people, key populations, and marginalized communities are being abandoned. Millions are at risk. Act now, save lives!
Learn more: 🔗 bit.ly/41CDnrD
#ZeroDiscrimination
Learn more: 🔗 bit.ly/41CDnrD
#ZeroDiscrimination
March 1, 2025 at 7:39 AM
🚨 Drastic cuts to global health funding are leaving millions without essential HIV services. Young people, key populations, and marginalized communities are being abandoned. Millions are at risk. Act now, save lives!
Learn more: 🔗 bit.ly/41CDnrD
#ZeroDiscrimination
Learn more: 🔗 bit.ly/41CDnrD
#ZeroDiscrimination
How great to see not 1 but 2 ultra talented PhD students from @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social submit their theses 🥳. Well done @oliviamac17.bsky.social and @melodytaba.bsky.social !!!🙌🙌👏👏👏🙌🙌
February 28, 2025 at 12:19 AM
How great to see not 1 but 2 ultra talented PhD students from @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social submit their theses 🥳. Well done @oliviamac17.bsky.social and @melodytaba.bsky.social !!!🙌🙌👏👏👏🙌🙌
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
🚨NEW: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning to fire Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff C.Q. Brown, a 4-Star General and 41-year veteran of the Air Force who flew over 130 hours in combat as a fighter pilot.
REPOST if you stand with General C.Q. Brown against Hegseth!
REPOST if you stand with General C.Q. Brown against Hegseth!
February 21, 2025 at 2:08 AM
🚨NEW: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning to fire Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff C.Q. Brown, a 4-Star General and 41-year veteran of the Air Force who flew over 130 hours in combat as a fighter pilot.
REPOST if you stand with General C.Q. Brown against Hegseth!
REPOST if you stand with General C.Q. Brown against Hegseth!
Reposted by Kirsten McCaffery
Decisions to decline breast screening and/or breast cancer treatment based on the potential harms of overdiagnosis and overtreatment: a qualitative study.
@dr-skcj.bsky.social et al: Implications for the way informed choice is considered.
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/1...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
@dr-skcj.bsky.social et al: Implications for the way informed choice is considered.
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/1...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
Decisions to decline breast screening and/or breast cancer treatment based on the potential harms of overdiagnosis and overtreatment: a qualitative study
Objectives To explore the experiences of women who have made the decision to decline breast screening and/or breast cancer treatment for overdiagnosis/overtreatment reasons after being invited to the ...
bmjopen.bmj.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Decisions to decline breast screening and/or breast cancer treatment based on the potential harms of overdiagnosis and overtreatment: a qualitative study.
@dr-skcj.bsky.social et al: Implications for the way informed choice is considered.
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/1...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
@dr-skcj.bsky.social et al: Implications for the way informed choice is considered.
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/1...
@wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
I am one of more than 750 political scientists who signed this statement "express[ing] our urgent concern about threats to the basic design of American government and democracy" drive.google.com/file/d/1lGk2...
Political science statement.pdf
drive.google.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Read our new article and why we need AI health literacy NOW
Many thanks to @biostatsandcats.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social @sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social !
You can read our article in The Conversation here:
📰 Read more: theconversation.com/more-people-...
You can read our article in The Conversation here:
📰 Read more: theconversation.com/more-people-...
More people are asking generative AI questions about their health. But the wrong answer can be risky
Some people ask generative AI health questions that would usually require clinical advice, such as whether to go to hospital for certain symptoms.
theconversation.com
February 19, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Read our new article and why we need AI health literacy NOW