Center for Health Equity – Overview
The Center for Health Equity envisions the elimination of health inequities caused by age, gender, socioeconomic status, geographic location, ethnicity, or other social determinants, while pursuing sustainable environmental development to promote human health and well-being. The Center was established to realize this vision.
The Center focuses on research in “Health Equity” and “Sustainable Development”（see Figure 1）
Its mission is to enhance the University’s strengths in public health research, collaborate with experts across disciplines and institutions, strengthen research capacity and empirical research experience, and cultivate Center members as opinion leaders in relevant fields.
The Center aims to assist government agencies in formulating and implementing health policies, promote international collaboration with related research institutions, generate social impact, and advance human health and well-being.
●Health Equity
Health Equity research examines preventable disparities in population health (or healthcare) by investigating social determinants such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and region.
●Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development research addresses environmental health risk factors and food safety issues, while actively creating health-promoting environments.
By integrating population health (health equity) and environmental health (sustainable development), the Center seeks to achieve a public health vision of health equity aligned with the College of Public Health’s educational objectives and social responsibility.
| Health Equity | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Equity
(Population Health & Healthcare) |
Sustainable Development
(Environmental Health) |
||||||
| Age | Gender | Socioeconomic Status | Ethnicity / Race | Region | Environmental Health Risks | Food Safety | Health-Friendly Environment |
（Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of Health Equity Research）
Missions
01.
Research Mission
The Center focuses on studying and improving public health knowledge, reducing health inequalities, and making sure people can access, understand, and use basic health information and medical services. It works to ensure that health resources are fairly distributed across different social groups, reduce health gaps related to age, gender, income, location, and ethnicity, and promote sustainable environmental practices to create opportunities for health equity.
02.
Research Translation
The Center turns research findings into practical public health policy suggestions, gives feedback to funding agencies, supports government policies, and helps community organizations put these ideas into practice.
03.
Collaboration
The Center helps faculty from different areas in the College of Public Health work together on health equity issues and promotes collaboration and exchanges with research institutions at home and abroad.
04.
Talent Development
The Center promotes collaboration between the college’s faculty and students with international research organizations, and supports both domestic and international graduate students in presenting their research at international conferences.
Director
Director: Prof. Hui-Chuan Hsu
Education
Education
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Ph.D., Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, 2002
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M.Sc., Health Administration, National Taiwan University, 1994
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B.Sc., Public Health, National Taiwan University, 1991
Experience
Research Interests
Center Activities and Achievements
01. Active Aging and Health Equity: Cross-national comparisons of older populations
【International Collaboration】
Visited National Institute of Public Health, Japan (August 2023)
Publications:
- Hsu, H.C., Chong, Y.S., Osawa, E. (2023). Comparison of Asian Countries and Age Groups in the Attitudes Towards Active Aging and Impression of Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Social Policy 35(4), 422-439. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2022.2055418
- Osawa, E., Sasaki, Y., Hsu, H.C., Miura, H. (2024). Attitudes toward active aging and their association with social determinants and views on older adults in Japan: A cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 24, 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04711-0
- Hsu, H.C., Chong, Y.S., Osawa, E. (2024). Comparison of Asian Countries and Age Groups in the Attitudes Toward Active Aging and Impression of Older Adults. Joint Congress of GlobalHealth 2024. (submitted)
- Osawa, E., Sasaki, Y., Hsu, H.C., Miura, H. (2024). Attitudes toward active aging and their association with social determinants and views on older adults in Japan. Joint Congress of GlobalHealth 2024. (submitted)
Conference
- Hsu, H.C., Chong, Y.S., Osawa E. Attitudes towards active aging and associations with age discrimination and self-efficacy in old age life: country and cohort differences in Asia. 2020 Online Conference of International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, August 25-28, 2020, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (virtual conference).
02. Social Environment and Health Equity Research Team
【NSC Project】
Effects of social environment factors on cognitive function in older adults (MOST 109-2410-H-038-004)
【Publications:】
Papers
- Hsu, H.C.*, Bai, C.H. (2021). Social and built environments related to cognitive function of older adults: A multi-level analysis study in Taiwan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 2820. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062820
- Hsu, H.C.*, Bai, C.H. (2022). Individual and environmental factors associated with cognitive function of older people: A longitudinal multi-level analysis. BMC Geriatrics, 22. 243. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02940-9
- Lin, Y.H., Hsu, H.C.*, Bai, C.H., Wu, W.C. (2022). Dietary patterns are related to social environment and individual factors among older people. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073982
Conference
- Hsu, H.C.*, Bai, C.H. Person, Place, and Time Effects on Cognitive Function Among Older People in Taiwan. 2021 Annual Conference of Gerontological Society of America, Phoenix, AZ, USA, November 10-14, 2021. (submitted)
- Hsu, H.C.*, Bai, C.H. City and Individual factors associated with cognitive function in older adults. 2021 International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies Conference (virtual). August 23-27, 2021. (accepted).
- 林宜萱、徐慧娟*、白其卉。中老年人飲食行為模式與社會環境和個人因子的相關性。2021年臺灣老人學學會年會暨學術研討會。
- Su, C.M., Hsu, H.C. Correlation between active aging and self-rated health among older adults in Taiwan. The 49th Annual Conference of British Society of Gerontology, July 1-3, 2020, Bristol, United Kingdom. (virtual conference)
03. Long-Term Care Policy and Foreign Caregiver Workload
Conference
- Hsu, H. C.*, Chen, C. F. (2019). LTC 2.0: The 2017 Reform of Home- and Community-Based Care in Taiwan. Health Policy 123(10), 912-916.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.08.004
04. Age-Friendly Community Indicators
Policy Translation
- Development of a set of age-friendly community indicators for the National Health Administration in 2021; 1 handbook for community workers.
Papers
- 黃若盈、蕭伃伶、陳鳳音、徐慧娟、羅素英、周紫筠、劉芳。(2023)。建立臺灣高齡友善社區指引。護理雜誌，70(2)，84-94。
- Huang, J.Y. †, Hsu, H.C.†, Hsiao, Y. L., Chen, F.Y., Lo, S.Y., Chou, T.Y., Liu, F. (2022). Developing indicators of age-friendliness in Taiwanese communities through a modified Delphi method. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, 14430. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114430. (†equal contribution)
05. Age-Friendly Cities/Communities
【Research Outcomes】
Papers
- 徐婕、徐慧娟*、周真貞。(2024)。高齡友善與智慧城市和老年人孤獨感的相關性：以臺北市信義區老年人為例。老年學研究，5, 26-51. DOI:10.29703/JGS.202405_(3).0002 (*Correspondence) (刊登中)
Conference
- Hsu, H.C., Chen, C.J., Chou, C.C., Lin, Y.K. Awareness of Dementia-Friendly Community is Associated with Quality of Life Among the Older Adults: A case from Xinyi District of Taipei, Taiwan. The 34th International Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International, Singapore, December 10-12, 2020. (virtual conference)
- 徐婕、徐慧娟*、周真貞。(20230)。高齡友善與智慧城市和老年人孤獨感的相關性：以臺北市信義區老年人為例。2023年台灣公共衛生學會暨學術研討會，高雄市，2023年9月16-17日。(*Corresponding author)
Training undergraduate students (through 2 NSC Undergraduate Student Projects)
- 徐婕、徐慧娟。高齡友善與智慧城市和老年人孤獨感的相關性：以臺北市信義區老年人為例。指導國科會112年度補助大專生計畫 (112-2813-C-038-025-H)。
- 陳盺妍、徐慧娟。(2024)。高齡友善環境與老年人憂鬱及生活品質的相關性：以台北市信義區老年人為例。指導國科會113年度補助大專生計畫 (113-2813-C-038-101-H)。
06. Loneliness and Health Well-Being in Older Adults
Papers
- Hsu, H.C.*, Chang, S.C., Liang, C.Y., Ting, J.R. (2024). Intervention to reduce loneliness among older adults in the community: making friends with volunteers. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 24(S1), 240-245. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14828 (*Correspondence)
- Su, Y.P., Hsu, H.C.*, Chao, S.F. (2024). Changes in health and social relationships on loneliness among older adults. Educational Gerontology, 50(2), 114-128. DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2023.2226504 (*Correspondence)
- Hsu, H.C.*, Chao, S.F. (2022). Loneliness, loneliness literacy, and change in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics, 22: 707. DOI : 10.1186/s12877-022-03396-7. (*Correspondence)
- Hsu, H.C.* (2020). Typologies of loneliness, isolation and living alone are associated with psychological well-being among older adults in Taipei: A Cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9181. DOI:10.3390/ijerph17249181 (*Correspondence)
Confernce
- Hsu, H.C. Loneliness, isolation and living alone associate with psychological well-being among the older adult in Taipei. 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting Online of Gerontological Society of America, November 4-7, 2020, Online conference (poster).
- Su, Y. P., Hsu, H.C.* Effects of the changes of health and social support on loneliness among older people. Annual Conference of British Society of Gerontology, July 6-8, 2022, Bristol, UK (online conference).
- Hsu, H.C.*, Ting, J.R., Liang, C.Y., Chang, S.C. Intervention to reduce loneliness for older adults in the community: Making friends by volunteers. 2023 IAGG Asia/Oceania Regional Congress. Yokohama, Japan, June 12-15, 2023.
- 丁婕容、張淑卿、梁君瑜、徐慧娟*。社區共好降低老人孤獨感：不同活動類型之效應。2023年台灣公共衛生學會暨學術研討會，高雄市，2023年9月16-17日。(*Corresponding author)
Student Theses
- 林雨慷。(2020)。高齡者孤獨、孤立、獨居與認知功能的相關性探討。臺北醫學大學公共衛生學系碩士班碩士論文。
- 蘇芸霈。(2022)。健康與社會支持之變化對高齡者孤獨與生活滿意度的影響。臺北醫學大學公共衛生學系碩士班碩士論文。
07. International Collaboration
- From Concept to Application: Micro and Macro Perspectives. In: Rojo-Pérez F., Fernández-Mayoralas G. (eds) Handbook of Active Ageing and Quality of Life. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58031-5_31. ISBN 978-3-030-58030-8; Online ISBN 978-3-030-58031-5
- Editors: Gloria Fernández-Mayoralas, Fermina Rojo-Pérez, Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography (IEGD) , the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Spain 西班牙高等科學研究院