Assessment of Health Literacy Level in Akcadag, Malatya, Turkey

Objective: Health literacy is the knowledge, motivation and abilities of individuals to reach information about health, to understand, interpret and apply this information. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the health literacy level and the factors affecting the health literacy levels of the population aged 18 and over. Material and Method: Fieldwork was conducted between March and July 2016. The sample size was calculated as 375 among 16.325 males and females aged 18 and over from the population registered to seven family medicine units. Turkish version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire and the Newest Vital Sign scale were used in this study. Results: It was determined that 7.2% of the group were illiterate. 50.7% of the participants were male, 78.4% married and 10.9% were in the 65 and over age group. 77.6% of the group whose HLS-EU-Q general health literacy index score average was determined as 27.5±7.41 were in the category of inadequate or problematic health literacy. The average score of the NVS scale for the group was 2.60±1.74. In health literacy indices and the NVS scale, the average score of males was higher than the average of females. As the level of education increased, the average scores of the NVS scale and general health literacy index increased. Conclusion: The inclusion of clear information on health in areas frequently used by the community, and the availability of health professionals’ effective communication techniques during their training will be effective in increasing the level of health literacy.

Malatya İli Akçadağ İlçesinde Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Düzeyinin Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Sağlık okuryazarlığı, bireylerin, sağlık ile ilgili bilgilere ulaşmaya, bu bilgileri anlamaya, yorumlamaya ve uygulamaya yönelik bilgi, motivasyon ve yetenekleridir. Bu araştırmada 18 ve üzeri yaş grubundaki nüfusun sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyinin ve sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyini etkileyen faktörlerin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmanın saha çalışması, Mart-Temmuz 2016 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirildi. Yedi aile hekimliği birimine kayıtlı olan nüfuslardan 18 yaş ve üzeri olan, erkek ve kadın toplam 16.325 kişi arasından örneklem büyüklüğü 375 hesaplandı. Araştırmada European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire Türkçe versiyonu ve Newest Vital Sign ölçeğinin Türkçe versiyonu kullanıldı. Bulgular: Grubun %7,2’si okuryazar değildi. Katılımcıların %50,7’si erkek, %78,4’ü evli ve %10,9’u 65 ve üzeri yaş grubundaydı. SOYA-AB genel sağlık okuryazarlığı indeksi puan ortalaması 27,5±7,41 tespit edilen grubun %77,6’sı yetersiz veya sorunlu sağlık okuryazarlığı kategorisinde bulunmaktaydı. Grubun EYYB ölçeği puan ortalaması 2,60±1,74 olarak tespit edildi. Sağlık okuryazarlığı indekslerinde ve EYYB ölçeğinde erkeklerin puan ortalamaları kadınların ortalamalarından daha yüksekti. Eğitim düzeyi yükseldikçe EYYB ölçeğinin ve genel sağlık okuryazarlığı indeksinin puan ortalamaları artmaktaydı. Sonuç: Toplum tarafından sık kullanılan alanlarda sağlık ile ilgili anlaşılır bilgilendirmelere yer verilmesi ve sağlık profesyonellerinin eğitimleri süresince hasta ile etkin iletişim tekniklerini öğrenerek, iletişim esnasında daha anlaşılabilir bir dil kullanmalarının, sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyini yükseltme konusunda etkili olacağı düşünülmektedir.

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