The Adaptation Study of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to make the adaptation of the Functional Health Literacy in Turkish Adults (TOFHLA) in patients with cardiovascular disease. Materials and Methods: Data collection form consisted of questions on socio-demographic-health related characteristics (31 items), verbal (30 items) and numeral (15 items) parts of TOFHLA. Computation was made out of 50. Data collection form was applied to the cardiology outpatient clinic applicants with face to face interview technique by the researcher (EU). Results: The mean verbal and numerical competency scores were 41.67 and 43.33, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the verbal and numerical competency scores was r=0.48 (p<0.001). No linear relation was found between age and scores. Spearman’s Rho values are as follows; age and verbal score r=0.02, p>0.05, age and numeral score r=-0.02, p>0.05, age and total score r=-0.01, p>0.05. Statistically significant differences were found between verbal, numeral and total scores of the education groups. It was found that the scores increased in parallel with the increased educational degree. Nuclear families had the highest scores. Conclusion: In terms of public health, to design and implement studies on a national scale in a broad context and to study the factors affecting the health literacy levels of different segments of society seem important.