Investigation of the relationship between asbestos exposure, health literacy and anxiety levels in patients applying to the Chest Diseases and Surgery Outpatient Clinic in a university hospital

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATİONSHİP BETWEEN ASBESTOS EXPOSURE, HEALTH LİTERACY AND ANXİETY LEVELS İN PATİENTS APPLYİNG TO THE CHEST DİSEASES AND SURGERY OUTPATİENT CLİNİC İN A UNİVERSİTY HOSPİTAL Karakaya G. Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Institute of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Department of Environmental Health, Master Thesis, Aydın, 2024. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between asbestos exposure, health literacy and anxiety levels in patients applying to chest diseases and surgery outpatient clinic. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 141 patients presenting to a chest diseases and surgery outpatient clinic between September 2023 and February 2024. Data were collected using a personal information form, a health literacy scale, and a state-trait anxiety scale. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in data analysis. Results: The majority of patients participating in the study were found to be uninformed about their asbestos exposure and to have significantly high anxiety levels. Health literacy levels were moderate, and it was observed that health literacy increased with increasing education. A negative correlation was found between health literacy and anxiety levels, with high anxiety complicating individuals' ability to understand and utilize health information. Conclusion: This study found that asbestos poses serious risks to public health and that exposure negatively impacts individuals' psychological well-being by increasing their anxiety levels. Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between health literacy and anxiety.