Özet:

Objective: In the study, it was planned to evaluate the health literacy levels of patients who applied to the family medicine outpatient clinic and the affecting conditions. Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was performed between March and June 2020. The study group consists of individuals over the age of 18 who applied to the Pamukkale University faculty of medicine, family medicine outpatient clinic, who are literate, able to communicate and persons who consented to participate in the study. The questionnaire form consists of 15-question on demographic characteristics and Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 to evaluate health literacy. Results: Of the 211 people participating in the study, 55.5% (n = 117) were women and their mean age was 31.9 ± 10.4. 17.1% (n = 36) of the participants had insufficient and 28.9% (n = 61) had problematic/limited health literacy. Insufficient health literacy level was found to be significantly higher in those with less than high school education, married, overweight and obese (p = 0.003; p = 0.011; p = 0.042, respectively). A weak negative correlation was found between health literacy mean score and subgroup scores and age and body mass index (BMI) (health literacy total score, respectively, r =-0.291 p = <0.001; r=-0.194 p = 0.005). Conclusion: Health literacy level was affected by marital status, educational status, and BMI level. Additionally, the young age group and low BMI were correlated with the mean health literacy score and subgroup scores.

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