Patient education status of patients with chronic disease and effects of the education they receive on diseases

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the patients who have chronic illnesses over the age of 18 who applied to the Akdeniz University Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic and to examine the effects of the education they receive on their illnesses, to raise awareness and to propose solutions for patients' quality of life. Method: In our descriptive and cross-sectional study, the research questionnaire consisting of 44 questions prepared by the researchers prepared for the participants who accepted to participate in the study, was applied with the face-to-face interview technique that evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics and health information of the patients. SPSS 22.0 package program was used for statistical analysis, p<0.05 value was accepted as the level of significance in all comparisons. For the analysis of the reliability levels of the question groups in the study, Co. Alpha test application has been done. Chi-square analysis was used to examine the difference in patient characteristics and disease characteristics according to the information rates. Independent t-test analysis for two-stage groups and Variance analysis (ANOVA) test were used to compare information and awareness levels according to patient characteristics. Correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationships between patients' information and awareness levels. Results: 380 people participated in the study. The average age of the participants is 56.28 ± 14.76 and 56% are women and 44% are men. 51% of patients have low income, 38% received primary school education. In our study, all of the participants (n = 380) had a known chronic or infectious disease. 81% of the patients were informed by the doctor or nurse during the health service process; 19% reported that they were not informed enough and at all. When the patients who are trained and not trained in the study are evaluated in general, the levels of awareness, awareness, treatment compliance, living with the disease, trust in the physician in patients who are trained are higher than those who do not receive education or information; It has been determined that informing and training the patient increases the awareness of patients about their disease, treatment, controls and health processes (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Patient education, which is indispensable for quality health care, has a great impact on chronic diseases. Patient education has an important place in protecting, maintaining and improving health, and gaining healthy living habits. Family physicians can play an important role in patient education as a member of the multidisciplinary team. Key Words: Patient Education, Chronic Disease, Family Medicine