The relationship between fear of recurrence and health literacy in breast cancer patients

Aim: Fear of recurrence is common in cancer patients and high level of fear of recurrence can lead to psychiatric problems in cancer patients. This study examines the hypothesis that among cancer patients, those with low health literacy are more associated with fear of recurrence and aims to provide recommendations and interventions to reduce fear of recurrence and increase health literacy. Materials and Methods: Within the scope of the study, between 01.03.2023 and 31.05.2023, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 50 female patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and completed their treatment at the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Çorum Erol Olçok Education Research Hospital. The participants were administered the sociodemographic data form, the Anxiety of Recurrence Subscale of the Adult Quality of Life Scale in Cancer Survivors, and the Turkish Health Literacy-32 scale. Results: No significant relationship was found between fear of recurrence and health literacy (p>0,05). Among patients diagnosed with single or double breast cancer, fear of recurrence was significantly higher in patients diagnosed with double breast cancer (p<0,05). No significant correlation was founda between fear of recurrence and other sociodemographic and disease characteristics (p>0,05). Conclusion: No significant relationship was found between fear of recurrence and health literacy in breast cancer patients who participated in this study. The hypothesis of this study was that fear of recurrence would decrease as health literacy increased. However, some patients with higher health literacy may have a better understanding of the risks and experience higher fear of recurrence. This may have affected the analyses and prevented a significant relationship between fear of recurrence and health literacy. Keywords: Breast cancer, Fear of recurrence, Health literacy