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Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the levels of health literacy amongst patients admitted to the ENT department of Eskisehir Osmangazi University in June 2018.
Methods: 200 patients (comprising 107 males and 93 females), selected at random, consented to the study. They were supplied with the Health Literacy Questionnaire, which was used to evaluate health literacy.
Results: The majority of respondents indicated that they were unsure about whether particular symptoms related to disease or not, lack confidence in being able to read and fully comprehend a text about their disease and have difficulty comprehending and trusting doctors’ advice. They experienced difficulty in weighing advantages and disadvantages of treatment options, finding information relating to symptomatology and particular diseases and being aware when a second opinion would be appropriate. There were deficits apparent in understanding both positive and negative influences of the environment, lifestyle and nutrition. Nutritional advice was poorly comprehended. By contrast, no difficulties were apparent in obtaining medical appointments, making contact with doctors or using medication as directed. Respondents were confident about how to act in an emergency and when to call an ambulance, when to go for checkups and how to locate information on the management and prevention of obesity, hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia.
Conclusion: Health literacy is of prime importance in public health. Bolstering health literacy, especially where levels are low, is necessary. Healthcare staff need to work on being more easily understood in the interests of promoting effective communication across the entire social spectrum.