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The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Illness Self-Care Management in Turkish Patients With Cancer

Nesrin İlhan

Sümeyye Gencer

Öznur Özdemir

Seda Maviyildiz

health literacy, illness self-care management, patient education
ONF 2020, 47(3), E73-E85. DOI: 10.1188/20.ONF.E73-E85

Objectives: To determine the relationship between health literacy and illness self-care management in individuals with cancer.

Sample & Setting: 207 individuals with cancer undergoing treatment in the chemotherapy unit of a university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods & Variables: Data were collected using a sociodemographic and illness characteristics questionnaire, the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire–Turkish Version (HLS-EU-Q-TR), and the Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, student t test, Pearson correlation test, and multiple regression analysis.

Results: 86% of individuals displayed an inadequate or problematic to limited level of health literacy. Extended family status and HLS-EU-Q-TR score were significant predictors of self-care management.

Implications for Nursing: Nurses can organize health programs designed to improve the level of health literacy in the population, but they should take into consideration the health literacy levels of their patients.

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