Investigation of health literacy by gender in individuals receiving physiotherapy and rehabilitation services

Abstract

Purpose: Health literacy is important for the science of physiotherapy, which includes treatment methods based on understanding and practice. To increase the health literacy level of patients, individual characteristics should be considered. The aim of this study is to investigate the health literacy level of individuals who received physiotherapy and rehabilitation services and identify the role of gender on the health literacy level.
Methods: The health literacy levels of patients who received physiotherapy and rehabilitation services due to an orthopedic injury or musculoskeletal problem were examined. Health literacy was evaluated with the Turkey Health Literacy Questionnaire (THLQ). Age, body mass index, disease duration, number of physiotherapy sessions, physiotherapy history and education level were questioned. Whether the data obtained differed according to gender was analysed with appropriate statistical methods.
Results: Average health literacy overall score found as 34.02±8.56. The mean health literacy score of females was found to be significantly better than that of males (p<0.01). No difference was found between genders in terms of excellent health literacy status (p=0.008).
Conclusion: The health literacy level of patients who received physiotherapy and rehabilitation services was found to be sufficient. The health literacy level of females was found to be higher than males. Since our study reveals the health literacy level of patients receiving physiotherapy, it is also expected to contribute to future studies on public health.
with the Turkey Health Literacy Questionnaire (THLQ). Age, body mass index, disease duration,
number of physiotherapy sessions, physiotherapy history and education level were questioned.
Whether the data obtained differed according to gender was analysed with appropriate statistical
methods.
Results: Average health literacy overall score found as 34.02±8.56. The mean health literacy score of
females was found to be significantly better than that of males (p<0.01). No difference was found
between genders in terms of excellent health literacy status (p=0.008).
Conclusion: The health literacy level of patients who received physiotherapy and rehabilitation
services was found to be sufficient. The health literacy level of females was found to be higher than
males. Since our study reveals the health literacy level of patients receiving physiotherapy, it is also
expected to contribute to future studies on public health.

Keywords

• Health Literacy
• Physiotherapy
• Public Health

Fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon hizmeti alan bireylerde sağlık okur yazarlığının cinsiyete göre incelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Sağlık okuryazarlığı, anlama ve uygulamaya dayalı tedavi yöntemleri içeren fizyoterapi bilimi için önemli bir konudur. Hastaların sağlık okur yazarlığı seviyelerini artırmak için bireysel özelliklerin dikkate alınması gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon hizmeti alan bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerini ve cinsiyetin sağlık okuryazarlığı üzerindeki rolünü araştırmaktır.
Yöntem: Ortopedik bir yaralanma veya kas iskelet sistemi problemi sebebi ile fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon hizmeti almış olan hastaların sağlık okur yazarlığı düzeyleri incelendi. Bireylerin, Sağlık okuryazarlığı Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Anketi (SOYA) ile değerlendirildi. Yaş, vücut kitle indeksi, hastalık süresi, fizyoterapi seans sayısı ve fizyoterapi geçmişi sorgulandı. Elde edilen verilerin cinsiyete göre farklılık gösterip göstermediği uygun istatistiksel yöntemlerle analiz edildi.
Bulgular: Bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlığı ortalama puanı 34,02±8,56 olarak bulundu. Kadınların sağlık okuryazarlığının erkeklerden anlamlı olarak daha iyi olduğu bulundu (p<0,01). Mükemmel sağlık okuryazarlığı durumu açısından ise cinsiyetler arasında bir fark olmadığı bulundu (p=0,008).
Sonuç: Fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon hizmeti alan hastaların sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyinin yeterli olduğu bulundu. Kadınların sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyinin erkeklere göre daha fazla olduğu bulundu. Bu çalışma fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon hizmeti alan hastaların sağlık okuryazarlık düzeyini ortaya koyarken, halk sağlığı ile ilgili gelecek çalışmalara da katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

• Sağlık okur-yazarlığı
• fizyoterapi
• halk sağlığı

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