Recent articles: health information; Vaccine Literacy; Older people's literacies

- Goncalves, R., Faisal, W., Stebbins, T. & Blackberry, I. (2025). Tailoring Information for Adults over 50 living with Cancer in the Age of Social Media: A Systematic Review. Journal of Cancer Policy, Article 100589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100589 (open access) (Patients are most informed by health care providers (rather than social media). Some interesting conclusions about what is needed from health care providers, identifying diversity of needs, and also interestingly identifying that there seems to be a gap in research about the information needs of those with high health literacy)
- Olorunsaiye, C.Z., Degge, H.M., Osborne, A. et al. (2025). COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Among Black Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the USA. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02430-9 (not open access) (This includes the recommendations from the participants in this qualitative stdy for improving Vaccine Literacy)
- Vieira da Silva, C. et al. (2025). Bridging the digital divide: insights from an umbrella review of older adults’ digital competencies for gerontological social work research. European Social Work Research. https://doi.org/10.1332/27551768Y2025D000000038 (not open access)
(This is "an umbrella review that integrates and synthesises research on the digital competencies of older adults from six systematic literature reviews". Part of the conclusion says "As Fang et al (2019) emphasised, co-creating policies and interventions with older adults is essential. Co-creation leads to more relevant and practical interventions that are culturally sensitive, locally anchored and tailored to the diverse realities of older adults. By involving user participation in decision making (Nykänen et al, 2023), social workers ensure a better approach to creating more inclusive and sustainable solutions that empower older adults and foster greater digital equity. Future research in GSW should employ mixed-methods approaches, with a strong emphasis on qualitative methodologies to capture older adults’ digital experiences. Studies should examine how technological advancements foster autonomy, address individual needs and enhance social work practices. Prioritising participatory methods ensures that policies and interventions are informed by the diverse experiences of older adults across gender, disability and socio-economic contexts.")
Photo by Sheila Webber: cherry blossom and leaf, April 2025