Stigma and health literacy in individuals with COPD

This study was conducted to evaluate the stigma and health literacy levels of individuals with COPD and to determine the relationship between stigma and health literacy. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 310 individuals with COPD who applied to Nevşehir State Hospital Chest Diseases Polyclinic between 10 September 2021 and 10 March 2022 and were hospitalized in the Chest Diseases Service. The data in there search; It was collected using the Patient Identification Form, the COPD Assessment Test, the Health Literacy Scale and the Expected Stigma in Chronic Diseases Scale. The distribution of variables in the study was measured with the Kolmogorov Smirnov test. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in the analysis of quantitative independent data. Spearman correlation analys is method was used in the correlation analysis. The power of there search was determined according to the Post Hoc Power analysis. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0,05. In the study, it was determined that 58,7% of the individuals with a mean age of 70,5±11,0 were male, 41,3% were primary school graduates, and 63,5% had chronic diseases other than COPD. It was determined that 60,0% of the individuals had smoked before, 11,9% were informed by the nurse, 58,1% had knowledge about COPD symptoms and 69,0% did not know what to do when the symptoms worsened. The Health Literacy Scale score was 36,8±12,8 and the Expected Stigma Scale in Chronic Diseases score was 30,4±8,5. The Health Literacy Scale score was found to be statistically significantly lower in individuals who were over 65 years old,female, married, unemployed, exposed to passive smoking and graduated from primary school and below. It was determined that the Expected Stigma of Chronic Diseases Scale score was statistically significantly over 65 years old, male, single, secondary school and highereducated individuals and those who were not Working duetot heir disease. Alow positive correlation was found between the Health Literacy Scale and the Expected Stigma of Chronic Diseases Scale total score. It has been determined that individuals with COPD have low levels of stigma and health literacy. In line with the results of the study, it is recommended that individuals with COPD be educated on these issues and their knowledge about the disease should be evaluated at regular intervals.