Investigation of The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Successful Aging among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between health literacy levels and successful aging in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Method: The study included 204 COPD patients admitted to Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Education and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the ‘Personal Information Form,’ the ‘Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32’ (TSOY-32), and the ‘Successful Aging Scale’ (SAS). Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 25.0, and group comparisons were made using appropriate tests.

Results: The mean age of participants was 67±5 years; 76.5% were male, 31.4% employed, and 48% retired. Most participants (90.2%) reported income equal to expenses, while 67.6% used tobacco. The average duration of COPD was 12±2.1 years, and 83.6% had at least one comorbidity. A large proportion attended regular health check-ups (90.7%), understood the information provided by healthcare staff (85.3%), and could go to the hospital independently (66.2%). SAS scores differed significantly by gender, whereas no significant difference was found for TSOY-32. In addition, both TSOY-32 and SAS scores differed significantly by age, employment, occupation, comorbidity, regular check-ups, and disease duration (p<0.05). Higher scores were observed in younger, working individuals and those without comorbidities. No significant difference was found for smoking status (p>0.05). A moderate, positive correlation existed between TSOY-32 and SAS scores (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that health literacy is closely linked to successful aging in COPD patients. Improving patients’ ability to access, understand, and apply health information may contribute to healthier aging. Strengthening educational and counselling services is therefore recommended.

Keywords

• Healthy Aging
• COPD
• Health Literacy
• Successful Aging

Supporting Institution

This study was not financially supported by any institution or organization.

Ethical Statement

I declare that I have adhered to scientific and ethical principles in conducting and writing this study, and that I have properly cited all sources used. Ethical approval was obtained from the Aksaray University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2022/17-02, Date: 27/10/2022). *This study is derived from a master’s thesis (Author: İlknur Kaba Dere, Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Güler Duru Aşiret, Institution: Aksaray University, Thesis Title: The relationship between health literacy level and successful ageing level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, Thesis completion year: 2024).

Kronik Obstrüktif Akciğer Hastalarinin Sağlik Okuryazarliği İle Başarili Yaşlanma Arasindaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın temel amacı, kronik obstrüktif akciğer hastalığı bulunan bireylerde sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyi ile başarılı yaşlanma arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir.

Yöntem: Çalışma, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Ankara Atatürk Sanatoryum Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi’ne başvuran toplam 204 KOAH hastası ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle toplanmış; katılımcılara “Kişisel Bilgi Formu”, “Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği-32” (TSOY-32) ve “Başarılı Yaşlanma Ölçeği” (SAS) uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler SPSS 25.0 paket programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiş, gruplar arasındaki farklılıklar uygun istatistiksel testlerle değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 67±5 olup, %76,5’i erkek, %31,4’ü çalışmakta ve %48’i emeklidir. Katılımcıların %90,2’sinin geliri giderine eşittir ve %67,6’sı sigara/tütün kullanmaktadır. KOAH süresi ortalama 12±2,1 yıl olup, %83,6’sında en az bir ek kronik hastalık vardır. Bireylerin %90,7’si düzenli sağlık kontrolüne gitmekte, %85,3’ü sağlık personelinden aldığı bilgiyi anlamakta ve %66,2’si tek başına hastaneye gidebilmektedir. SAS puanları cinsiyete göre anlamlı farklılık gösterirken, TSOY-32 puanları açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. Ayrıca, yaş, çalışma durumu, meslek, komorbidite varlığı, düzenli sağlık kontrolüne gitme ve hastalık süresine göre hem TSOY-32 hem de SAS puanlarının anlamlı farklılık gösterdiği belirlenmiştir (p<0,05). Daha genç, çalışan ve komorbiditesi olmayan bireylerde puanların daha yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır. Sigara kullanım durumuna göre anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır (p>0,05). İki ölçek arasında orta düzeyde, pozitif yönde bir ilişki vardır (p<0,001).

Sonuç: Çalışma, KOAH hastalarında sağlık okuryazarlığının başarılı yaşlanma ile yakından ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Sağlık bilgilerini edinme ve kullanma becerilerinin geliştirilmesi, yaşlanma sürecinde olumlu katkılar sağlayacaktır. Bu nedenle sağlık profesyonellerinin eğitim, danışmanlık ve destek hizmetlerini güçlendirmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Sağlıklı Yaşlanma
• KOAH
• Sağlık Okuryazarlığı
• Başarılı Yaşlanma

Supporting Institution

This study was not financially supported by any institution or organization.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Aksaray University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2022/17-02, Date: 27/10/2022).

Thanks

I declare that I have adhered to scientific and ethical principles in conducting and writing this study, and that I have properly cited all sources used. Ethical approval was obtained from the Aksaray University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2022/17-02, Date: 27/10/2022). *This study is derived from a master’s thesis (Author: İlknur Kaba Dere, Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Güler Duru Aşiret, Institution: Aksaray University, Thesis Title: The relationship between health literacy level and successful ageing level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, Thesis completion year: 2024).

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