The effects of health literacy level on quality of life and determination of related factors in patients applicable to Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty Family Medicine Polyclinic

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the levels of health literacy and life quality, the factors that influence them and the effect of health literacy on quality of life in patients aged 18 and older applying to Ondokuz Mayıs University School of Medicine (OMUSM) family medicine outpatient clinic. Instrument and Method: In this cross-sectional and descriptive research, the three- party data collection form was filled in by 330 patients aged 18 and older applying to OMUSM family medicine outpatient clinic between 20.07.2022 and 20.11.2022. Health literacy was assessed by TSOY (Turkish Health Literacy- 32 Scale and quality of life was assessed by SF- 36 (Short Form- 36). Statistical analysis of the data was conducted in the IBM SPSS 25.0 statistical package program. Independent Samples t Test and One- Way ANOVA were used to assess the differences among variables. p<0,05 was statistically significant. Findings: %55,8 (n=184) of the participants are female, %44,2 (n=146) are male. The avarage of age is 40,03±13,55. %27,0 (n=89) of the participants has insufficient, %40,0 (n=132) has problematical health literacy. The scores of dimensions of SF- 36 are succesively; physical functioning=84,40, role-physical=67,34, role-emotional=63,43, vitality=49,09, mental health=60,90, social functioning=68,97, bodily pain=67,03, general health=57,37. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between total TSOY-32 score and the scores of dimensions of SF- 36. It was (r=0,303 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and physical functioning. It was (r=0,271 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and role-physical. It was (r=0,368 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and vitality. It was (r=0,166 p=0.003) between TSOY-32 score and mental health. It was (r=0,295 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and social functioning. It was (r=0,226 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and bodily pain. It was (r=0,322 p<0.001) between TSOY-32 score and general health. Result: There is a significant positive correlation among total and the dimension of prevention of ilnesses/ development of health of TSOY-32 and all dimensions of life quality other than role-emotional. There is a significant positive correlation among the dimension of treatment and service of TSOY-32 and all dimensions of life quality. According to these results, it can be inferred that more serious and concrete actions/ measures have to be taken without discerning patient groups in order to increase the level of health literacy through all of the society. Keywords: "Health literacy", "Quality of life", "Health related quality of life"