Health literacy and health perception relationship in elder individuals with chronic illnesses

This descriptive and relational research carried out to investigate health literacy and health perception relationship in elder individuals with chronic illnesses was conducted with 550 individuals between the ages of 65 and over, who are treated in the clinical of Internal Diseases, Chest Diseases and gastroenterology in Medical Faculty at Ege University. The research data was obtained from the questionnaire form consisting 30 questions to find the descriptive characteristics of the individuals. Health literacy levels of the individuals were identified by using Health Literacy Scale whose validity and reliability had been tested. The research data was collected through face to face technique with the individuals. The data was evaluated by SPSS 15 Packet program. In the scope of research, it was detected that 54.9% is woman, 69.9% is married, and 39.6% is between the ages of 65-74. When the education level of the individuals is assessed, it was found out that 46.4% graduated from primary school. of these individuals, 44.0% lives in cities, 51.1% works, 55.7% has income lower than expenses, and only 0.4% of individuals does not have health insurance. 71.7% of the individuals' lives with their spouse, and only 0.4% lives in a care house. When the BKI values of these individuals are assessed, 43.4% was found out to be weak. In the scope of the research, it was detected that 39.1% smokes, and 22.4% of these people smoking consumes at least 1 packet a day, 32.5% consumes alcohol, and 18.0% consumes alcohol less than 2 days in a week. In terms of reaching health services, 51.3% has difficulty, and when their level of perceiving health is analysed, 34.7% perceives as medium, and when they are asked 'How do you find your life quality?' 35.3% responded that it is medium. Of the individuals with chronic illnesses, it was found out that 32.5% has chronic illnesses for 5-10 years, and 82.5% uses medicines. of these individuals, 37.1% was taken to the hospital 1-3 times, and 31.6% of those taken to the hospital stayed at the hospital for 1-2 weeks, as well as 73.3% was taken to the emergency department and 32.5% of those individuals taken to the emergency experienced it 1-3 times. In the scope of the research, the point average of the health literacy of the elder individuals is 87.96±13.89. The point average of the scale articles was found between 28.60±5.03 and 17.73±3.28. The subscale with the lowest average is application subscale with 17.73±3.28. The highest average is evaluation subscale with 28.60±5.03. The elder individuals took min 51, and max 125 from the scale. and the range is 74. Standard deviation is 13.89, variance is 192.99. When the article point averages of the subscales are analysed, application subscale has 17.73±3.28 (min:9, max:25) point average, access is 18.48±3.30 (min:9,max:25) understanding 23.12±4.52 (min:12,max.35), evaluation is 28.60±5.03 (min:15,max:40), total point averages was found out to be between 17.73±3.28 and 28.60±5.03. It was also found out that the subscale with the lowest average is application subscale and the subscale with the highest average is evaluation subscale. Of the individuals under the research, it was found out that health literacy among women has higher point average. Similarly the group comprised of the individuals between the ages of 65 to 74 has a meaningful difference than the other groups. As the age of individuals increase, the health literacy scale's point average is decreasing. The married individuals' scale point avarages are higher. Of these individuals, the group with high school and higher level education has the highest health literacy point average. Given this result, as the level of education increases, the individuals' health literacy point average also increases. Of the volunteers in the research, as the period of time the individuals spend increases from rural place to city, the scale point average also increase. The point average of the working individuals is higher. When the professions and health literacy scale's point average is taken into consideration, the highest average belongs to housewives and state officers. It was found out that there is a statistical meaningful difference between the level of income and health literacy. The group consisting of the individuals with income higher than expense has the highest point average. The state of belonging to a social insurance institution and health literacy scale's point average is relevant statistically. The individuals with Green card (health card for uninsured people in Turkey), Bağ-Kur (insuranced self-employed institution) have similar point averages with each other and it is low; the individuals with government retirement fund and with private health insurance are relevant and it is higher. Given these results, the individuals living with their spouses have higher point average. It was found out that there is not a statistically meaningful relationship between The BKI values of the individuals, smoking/drinking, and the frequency of smoking/drinking and health literacy. It was observed that there is a meaningful relationship between the individuals' perception of their health state and their evaluation of the life quality and health literacy scale's point average. It was also found out that the individuals perceiving their health good and very good and the individuals evaluating their life quality good and very good have higher point average. The group including individuals, who expressed that they do not have difficulty in access to health services, has similarly higher point average in health literacy. A meaningful relationship was not observed between the number of chronic illnesses of the individuals with at least one chronic illness in the scope of the research and the presence of the chronic illness and health literacy scale's point average. But, when the use of medicine is taken into consideration, the individuals, who do not use medicine, have higher point average. Similarly, the individuals, who were not taken to hospital, have also higher point average in health literacy scale, and as the number of being taken to hospital increases, the point average decreases. In a similar way, it was found out that the individuals, who were not taken to the emergency department, have higher point average in health literacy scale, and as the number of being taken to the emergency increases, the point average decreases. It is possible to suggest to repeat the research in higher sample groups and in longer process. Key words: Health literacy, perceptıon of health, chronic disease.