Evaluation of individual health literacy among inpatients of different types of hospitals in Istanbul

Abstract

Objective: The objective of our study is to evaluate the individual health literacy level among patients who received health servicesfrom different types of hospitals in Istanbul.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among inpatients of a public, private and university hospital inIstanbul. Data were collected by the application of a questionnaire to 1500 adult inpatients who were discharged between February-July2017. The study questionnaire included questions to determine the health literacy competency and sociodemographic characteristicsof patients. Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) scale was used to measure the health literacy level.Results: The mean REALM score was higher among females than males (p<0.013). Health literacy mean score was lowest amongpublic hospital inpatients and highest among university hospital inpatients (p<0.001). Primary-school graduate patients hadsignificantly lower scores (p<0.001) than the other groups. The findings of the REALM test were in agreement with the health literacycompetencies.Conclusion: Males, patients older than 35 years old, primary-school graduates, and public hospital inpatients had lower levels ofhealth literacy.