Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Health Literacy in Common Pediatric Surgical Diseases

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 401 - 412, 13.10.2025

Nurcan Çoşkun , Tuba Kayır

https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1726298

Abstract

Objective: Pediatric surgical diseases are a significant public health issue due to their morbidity and burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and health literacy regarding common surgical diseases and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic factors, as well as to explore the potential impact of these factors on pediatric surgical processes.
Material and Method: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 121 parents of children aged 0–18 years presenting to family health centers were included. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire including sociodemographics, a 10-item knowledge test, a 10-item attitude scale, and the Health Literacy Scale–Short Form (HLS-SF12). Statistical analyses involved t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation tests.
Results: Of the participants, 71.1% were female and 51.2% were aged 36–45. Knowledge levels were high for appendicitis and circumcision but low for hydrocele and undescended testis. Higher health literacy scores were significantly associated with female gender, higher education, urban residence, civil servant status, and higher income (p<0.05). Additionally, 55.4% of the participants stated that they looked for information online, but only 4.1% trusted social media. 57% directly consulted an expert, while 84.3% received a second expert opinion.
Conclusion: Parents' knowledge and health literacy are significantly affected by sociodemographic characteristics. Deficiencies in knowledge about common diseases that can lead to serious complications and timing of treatment can be overcome by strengthening the counseling role of family physicians and disseminating simple, reliable and comprehensible information resources for groups with low health literacy. Structured and systematic education programs, such as school-based initiatives and digital health platforms, could play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

Keywords

Pediatric surgery , Health literacy , Family physician , Knowledge level , Cross-sectional study

Ethical Statement

Approval was obtained from the Hitit University Research Ethics Committee on May 6, 2025, with decision number 2025-75.

Supporting Institution

None

Thanks

None

Sık Görülen Pediatrik Cerrahi Hastalıklarda Ebeveyn Bilgi, Tutum ve Sağlık Okuryazarlığının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çocuklarda sık görülen cerrahi hastalıklar, morbidite ve sağlık sistemine yük açısından önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu çalışmada, ebeveynlerin yaygın cerrahi hastalıklara ilişkin bilgi, tutum ve sağlık okuryazarlıklarını değerlendirmek, bunların sosyodemografik faktörlerle ilişkisini incelemek ve bu faktörlerin pediatrik cerrahi süreçleri üzerindeki olası etkilerini araştırmak amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı nitelikteki çalışmaya, aile sağlığı merkezlerine başvuran, 0–18 yaş aralığında çocuğu bulunan 121 ebeveyn dahil edilmiştir. Veriler; sosyodemografik bilgiler, cerrahi hastalıklara yönelik 10 soruluk bilgi testi, 10 maddelik tutum ölçeği ve Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği – Kısa Form (HLS-SF12)’dan oluşan anketle toplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizlerde t-testi, ANOVA ve korelasyon testleri kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Katılımcıların %71,1’i kadın, %51,2’si 36–45 yaş aralığındadır. Apandisit ve sünnet hakkında bilgi düzeyi yüksek; hidrosel ve inmemiş testis gibi hastalıklarda bilgi eksiklikleri belirgindir. Yüksek Sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyi; kadın cinsiyet, yüksek eğitim, memuriyet, şehirde yaşama ve yüksek gelirle anlamlı ilişkilidir (p<0,05). Katılımcıların %55,4’ü internetten bilgi aradığını ancak sadece %4,1’inin sosyal medyaya güvendiğini belirtmiştir. %57’si doğrudan uzmana başvururken, %84,3’ü ikinci uzman görüşü almıştır.
Sonuç: Ebeveynlerin bilgi düzeyi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı, sosyodemografik özelliklerden önemli ölçüde etkilenmektedir. Ciddi komplikasyonlara yol açabilecek yaygın hastalıklar ve tedavi zamanlaması konusunda bilgi eksiklikleri, aile hekimlerinin danışmanlık rolünün güçlendirilmesi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı düşük gruplar için basit, güvenilir ve anlaşılır bilgi kaynaklarının yaygınlaştırılmasıyla giderilebilir. Okul temelli girişimler ve dijital sağlık platformları gibi yapılandırılmış ve sistematik eğitim programları bu hedeflere ulaşmada önemli bir rol oynayabilir.

Keywords

Çocuk cerrahisi , Sağlık okuryazarlığı , Aile hekimi , Bilgi düzeyi , Kesitsel çalışma

Ethical Statement

Çalışma için 03/06/2025 tarihinde Hitit Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan onay alınmıştır. Karar no: 2025/128.

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