Usage of complementary alternative treatment methods and health literacy levels of women aged 65 years and older

This study was conducted descriptively in order to assess the usage of complementary alternative treatment methods and health literacy levels of women aged 65 years and older. Study was carried out with women aged 65 years and older (n:346) who have applied to the outpatient clinics of family medicine and internal medicine units at a governmental hospital in İstanbul between the dates of 17th of May and 10th of July in 2019. Data were collected with socio-demographic data form and Turkey Health Literacy Scale (THLS). Data were analyzed with independent samples t test, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis Variance Analysis. In the study, mean THLS score of women aged 65 years and older was found to be 91.75± 19.36, and mean THLS and all subscales scores of women aged 65-74 years were significantly higher compared to the other age groups (p<0.05). It was determined that 68.2% of the women applied to complementary and alternative methods, while mean THLS scores of women who did not apply to those methods were higher than of applying women (p<0.05). Women who did not apply to complementary and alternative treatments had significantly higher mean scores of valuation/evaluation and application/use of the THLS compared to the applying women (p<0.05). Women who were satisfied from the method of complementary and alternative treatment had higher mean THLS scores (p<0.05). Consequently, the mean score of THLS of the women aged 65 years and older was at moderate level; age group, education, marital status, economical status, occupational status and usage of complementary and alternative treatment were found to significantly affect the mean THLS score.