The Health Literacy and Health-seeking Behavior of Patients with a Chronic Disease Requiring Hospitalization

Abstract

Objective: Health literacy is a broad term encompassing how an individual obtains, understands, evaluates and applies correct health information for a disability-free life and to be able to maintain quality of life in sickness and in health throughout their lifetime. The sources of correct information and health literacy are important factors in being able to achieve the successful management of chronic diseases in particular. This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy and health-seeking behaviors and the characteristics of patients with a chronic disease requiring hospitalization. Material and Methods: The study sample was formed of 194 patients, aged >18 years, treated in the internal medicine clinics of training and research hospital in Istanbul between 1 February and March 30, 2022. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 3 sections. In the statistical analysis, IBM SPSS vn. 23.0 software was used. Results: A significant negative relationship was determined between health literacy and health-seeking behaviors and age and education level of the demographic characteristics (p<0.05). Online health-seeking behavior was determined to be lower in patients with cardiac and chest diseases, and health-seeking behavior was seen to be higher on the first hospitalization (p<0.05). Conclusion: It can be considered that studies related to the health literacy and health-seeking behaviors of patients with a chronic disease will be an important source for disease management, enabling patients to lead a disability-free life.

Keywords

• health
• literacy intervention
• seeking behavior
• chronic disease