The relationship between smoking cessation success and health literacy in patients given cognitive behavioral therapy and medical treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Health literacy has been recognized as an important factor to reduce health inequality. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between health literacy scales and smoking cessation success of patients who applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic. Methods 120 volunteer patients who applied to our Smoking Cessation Clinic and completed a six-month follow-up were included in the study. Appropriate medical treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy were given to the patients. Health literacy scales (ASOY-TR) of patients who quit smoking and those who did not quit were statistically compared. Results ASOY-TR index was 33 (13–50). ASOY-TR deficiency 14.2% (n = 17); limited 35.5% (n = 43); adequate 34.7% (n = 42) and excellent 14.9% (n = 18). At the sixth month, 31.7% (n = 38) of our patients had quit smoking. ASOY-TR increased, cumulative smoking burden decreased (r = −0.215 p = .019). It was observed that the better the ASOY-TR category, the higher the success of smoking cessation (p = .047, OD = 0.296 (0.089–0.984)). Conclusion Developing health literacy can be beneficial in terms of preventing smoking addiction and quitting success.