An Examination of the Health Literacy Level of Patients Presenting at the Psychiatry Clinic

Abstract

Aim: To determine the level of health literacy of patients presenting at the Psychiatry Polyclinic. Material and Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained with the Adult Health Literacy Scale (AHLS) and a descriptive questionnaire. In the statistical evaluations, descriptive statistics, the Independent Samples t-test, Chi-square analysis, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests were used. Results: The mean AHLS score was determined to be 11.20 for females and 13.78 for males, with a statistically significant difference between the genders (p<0.05). When the study subjects were separated into age groups, the AHLS scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the 20-29 years group than in the ≥50 years age group, and in the 30-39 years group than in the ≥60 years group (p<0.01). The subjects with a profession and a higher level of education (high school/university) were determined to have a statistically significantly higher AHLS score (p<0.05). Those with a chronic disease had a significantly lower AHLS score than those without (11.20 vs. 12.97) (p<0.01). In patients with neurotic disorders, the AHLS scores were found to be statistically significantly high (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the level of health literacy of patients presenting at the Psychiatry Polyclinic was lower in females, those with no occupation, a low level of education (illiterate/primary school), advanced age (≥50 years) and chronic disease, and those with mood or psychotic disorders, compared to the other subjects.

Keywords

• Health literacy
• chronic disease
• psychiatric disorder

Psikiyatri Polikliniğine Başvuran Bireylerin Sağlık Okuryazarlık Düzeyinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Aim: To determine the level of health literacy of patients presenting at the Psychiatry Polyclinic. Material and Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained with the Adult Health Literacy Scale (AHLS) and a descriptive questionnaire. In the statistical evaluations, descriptive statistics, the Independent Samples t-test, Chi-square analysis, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests were used. Results: The mean AHLS score was determined to be 11.20 for females and 13.78 for males, with a statistically significant difference between the genders (p<0.05). When the study subjects were separated into age groups, the AHLS scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the 20-29 years group than in the ≥50 years age group, and in the 30-39 years group than in the ≥60 years group (p<0.01). The subjects with a profession and a higher level of education (high school/university) were determined to have a statistically significantly higher AHLS score (p<0.05). Those with a chronic disease had a significantly lower AHLS score than those without (11.20 vs. 12.97) (p<0.01). In patients with neurotic disorders, the AHLS scores were found to be statistically significantly high (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the level of health literacy of patients presenting at the Psychiatry Polyclinic was lower in females, those with no occupation, a low level of education (illiterate/primary school), advanced age (≥50 years) and chronic disease, and those with mood or psychotic disorders, compared to the other subjects.

Keywords

• kronik hastalıklar
• psikiyatrik bozukluklar
• sağlık okuryazarlığı

References

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