English summary of Portuguese Health Literacy Society activities 

PORTUGUESE SOCIETY OF HEALTH LITERACY

 

The Portuguese Society of Health Literacy (SPLS) is an association with non-profit legal personality, of a scientific and formative nature. It pursues scientific, formative, technical, organizational, ethical and human purposes in the promotion, development and improvement of the practice of Health Literacy.

As a society with unique characteristics and objectives at the national level, we intend to develop and strengthen, through multisectoral and multiprofessional partnerships, health promotion, disease prevention, health education, health communication that reinforce the level of health literacy of the population.

 

Strengthen the level of Health Literacy of the Population

To this end, we know that we have to invest in skills, and therefore in more knowledge in health, development of capacities and attitudes and behaviors that are healthier and more conscious, dynamic and always updated, with a view to benefiting individuals, organizations, communities, health professionals, groups, media, policy makers and others, within their respective contexts and throughout the life cycle.

 

Goal

Improve

Thus, we propose to improve the access, understanding and use of health resources, the  correct navigation in the system, which aim at improved, reflected and correct decisions, whether of individuals or groups, which promote and improve global outcomes in health and well-being

To achieve these ends, we advocate an integrated, inclusive and multidisciplinary approach, promoting and developing skills, and therefore, knowledge, both through reason and emotion, as well as motivation, self-efficacy and dynamics of learning accompanied and throughout the life cycle.

We believe that it will be possible to ensure more proximity and cooperation, for a more sustainable world, with more peace, more awareness, and with more health in all policies.

By evidence of the positive effects of better health literacy, the number of experts in the field has been growing.

SPLS is proud to already be a very consistent, proactive and reality-transforming group, whose performance is supported by good models, strategies and interventions of health literacy.

We started the scientific society on January 19, 2022, with 22 founding members, the result of fieldwork and advanced training of health literacy specialists for more than a decade.

As of March 1, 2023, the number of members (individual and collective) of the SPLS amounted to 140.

 We will continue to grow, because theme, research and intervention on the ground are essential for changing health outcomes.

 We want to give visibility to all those who have contributed to better health literacy in Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking countries, to specialists and to those who have built bridges for health literacy.

 

Proposal to organizations who want to make a difference in health literacy

The SPLS thus proposes a partnership and its listening and integration in the projects on health literacy to the current and future partners, for an active, dynamic, close collaboration, with beneficial results for the citizen, for the organizations and communities, which trigger the best synergies and bring added value to all parties involved

To this end, investments in skills, in the reimagining of health communication, investing in training and lifelong learning for the digital age, to help citizens better access, understand, evaluate and use health resources, and to make better decisions that allow them to live with more quality and well-being in health and involving groups in an ecological and social way,  organizations, communities, society as a whole.

We are aware of the importance of aggregating all knowledge and contributions in a single active voice and always in the expectation of adding more people and organizations to this great cause, in word or deed, because good partnerships (SDG 17) generate greater trust between the parties, strengthen projects and propagate the beneficial effects for all communities.

 

Our motto is: LITERACY IS GOOD FOR HEALTH. WE ALL WIN

 

The Board of the Portuguese Society of Health Literacy (SPLS)

Chairman of the Board, Professor Cristina Vaz de Almeida

Vice-President of the Board, Mestre Susana Ramos

Vice President of the Direction, Therapist Mariana Fonseca

www.splsportugal.pt

Most Relevant Activities by the Portuguese Society of Health Literacy (January 19, 2022 - March 2023)

Activity Date Details
Development of the SPLS website As of March 2022 Website Link (Over 15,000 hits as of December 2022)
Launch of the National Health Literacy Award March 26, 2023 Award Details (Sponsored by Roche and Ciência Viva)
Global Humanitarian Crisis Conference March 26, 2022 Conference Details
World Health Day Organization April 7 Event Details (Pavilion of Knowledge)
Webinar: Youth and Health Literacy Challenges May 16, 2022 Watch Video
Webinar: Access to Health for People with Disabilities June 9, 2022 Watch Video
Webinar: Transfer of Competences in Health to Municipalities June 15, 2022 Watch Video
Seminar on Health Literacy in Angola July 20, 2022 Watch Video
Debate: "Do Not Chill with MonkeyPox" August 4, 2022 Watch Video
Contribution to National Health Plan 2030 Consultation May 7, 2022
Launch of e-book: Health Literacy and Young People E-book Link (Supported by Ponte Editora and Miligrama)
Protocol with AICIB for Patient Organizations Training May 16, 2022 Protocol Details
Advanced Training Course in Health Literacy June 2022
Invitation to Scientific Events Details available at Website
Protocol with National Association of Medical Students (ANEM) September 3, 2022 Protocol Details
Protocol with National Association of Young Pharmacists (ANJF) September 5, 2022 Protocol Details
Heart, Wellness, and Health Congress October 29, 2022 Congress Details (Pavilion of Knowledge)
Mini Assemblies on Health Literacy (Oeiras) December 17, 2022 Details
Protocol with National Association of Young People in Physical Therapy (ANJF) October 29, 2022
Video Contest on Mental Health. Application of 21 short films made by medical students, in a partnership between SPLS and ANEM - National Association of Medical Students December 21, 2022 Event supported by INFARMED, Janssen, Sanofi, ONYA Health, Health News. As of December 21, 2022. Infarmed – winners' and prizes ceremony on 30 January 2023
Protocol with Order of Pharmacists December 15, 2022 Protocol Details
New Year's Concert SPLS 17 February 15, 2023 SPLS members as actors (singing, viola, adufe, piano, narrative/storytelling)
The secret of my thyroid, with endocrinologists, Inês Sapinho and Ana Catarina Matos February 15, 2023 Moderation, Dr. Rui Nogueira, Chairman of the Board of the AG of SPLS
Digital Parenting Skills Webinar February 22, 2023 With a group of professors from Univ. Nova, Prof. Cristina Ponte, SPLS, Nurse Patrícia Martins, Enf. Hélder Carreira, and physician Dr. Raquel Vareda Alves
Video Contest on Physical Activity and Well-being As of December 21, 2022 Application of 21 short films made by medical students, in partnership between SPLS and ANEM - National Association of Medical Students
Announcement of the winners of the NATIONAL HEALTH LITERACY AWARD March 26, 2023 Winners (5000 euros each prize): Ipatimup (Living Science) and Value for health Colab (Roche)
AGEAS Project Healthy Eating Launch in April 2023 - Launch in August 2023 Set of communications, podcasts, videos, and strategies for a better diet of the citizen and leading to conscious choices
Project "IT IS NECESSARY TO BE DIFFERENT" in the area of disability and rights With the group of Association 3Cs (Carlos Filipe) and Tango therapeutic, Decilo Bailando (Eugênia Brandulo) and Ama Paula Reis, who associates dance to debates on issues of deiciencia and people's rights. Everyone has the right to be different.
Performance at the Heart Congress October 29, 2022 Launch of Health Literacy Manual (Infarmed, June 5, 2023)
Book Launch – ESSAY ON THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH LITERACY January 2023 With the support of ONYA Health, Ponte Editora
Launch of the 1st Manual of Health Literacy in Portugal June 20 in Madeira, July 19 in Porto – ICBAS, September 29 in AZORES Invitation from PACTOR for the elaboration of the first Manual of Health Literacy in Portugal with several authors. Released on June 5, 2023, by INFARMED.
ACTIVATE PROJECT for older people about medication and vaccination With Oeiras City Hall. Co-creation project with older people (+ 65 years) on medication and vaccination with co-creation of materials. Pilot project was made by Casa Animada and Nova Atena (beautiful to old), involving more than 150 older people in partnership with the Order of pharmacists.
RITMO Project – A sensory experience of food, physical activity, and well-being November 18, 2023 The first event takes place in the Municipality of Oeiras, on November 18, 2023, and has a set of partners such as NOVARTIS, VIATRIS Portuguese Foundation of Cardiology, Portuguese Society of Cardiology, AADIC – Association of Support to the Patient with Heart Failure, with APTEC (Ass. Portuguesa de Cardiorespiratoria) ANESC (Ass Nacional de Emergência, Socorro E Catastrofe) with the associations of medical students – ANEM, Be Kind 4 You, among others.

 

Some projects we are working on