The relationship between health literacy level with utilization ofphysical treatment applications and self experienced benefit in patients with the Knee Osteoarthritis

The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of health literacy in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), the factors associated with the level of inadequate health literacy and to evaluate the relationship between health literacy and the use of physical therapy and exercise practices, pain and disability. Two hundred and three patients who had the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis according to ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria were included in the study. Demographic characteristics of patients, concomitant diseases, exercise frequency, physician visits, outpatient and inpatient physical therapy utilization and self-reported benefit were recorded. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to evaluate the pain of the patients. Western Ontario and McMaster Uvinersities OA Index (WOMAC) was used for evaluating pain, stiffness and physical functions. The health literacy level of the participants were evaluated according to the Turkey's Health Literacy Scale-32 (TSOY-32). According to the results, 27,6% of the group were inadequate, 22,2% were problematic, 40,9% were adequate, 9.4% had excellent health literacy. There were a negative correlation between health literacy and physician visits (p<0,001), outpatient physical therapy utilization (p<0,001), inpatient physical therapy utilization (p=0,021), NRS-pain (p<0,001) and WOMAC scores (p<0,001). There were a positive correlation between health literacy and exercise frequency (p<0,001), self-reported benefit (p<0,001) and exercise materials applicability (p<0,001). In conclusion, our study showed that there was a significant inverse relationship between health literacy and physical therapy and exercise practices utilization. Inadequate health literacy has a negative effect on osteoarthritis self-management and is associated with high pain and disability scores.