Zdravstvena pismenost kod kroničnih bolesnika oboljelih od epilepsije

Abstract

By reviewing the literature, many authors cite health literacy as one of the strongest predictors of the health status of the individual and the community. According to the World Health Organization from 2000, health literacy represents personal, cognitive and social skills that determine an individual's ability to access information, understand and utilize information to improve and maintain health, and is cited as one of the important public health goals for the 21st century. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the level of health literacy among patients with epilepsy and to examine the association between health literacy and soft sociodemographic indicators. A structured survey questionnaire modified according to the Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology questionnaire and the eHealth questionnaire was used to assess the usefulness of health information obtained through electronic sources. 90 subjects of both sexes were included in the study, and the most represented age group was between 30 and 49 years old. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, and Chi-square test with Fisher's exact correction was used for testing. The results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between health literacy and certain sociodemographic indicators, and that the younger population recognizes the internet as a useful source of information that helps in making personal health decisions. This study did not prove a statistically significant difference in patients between health literacy and level of education, nor that patients from rural areas have poorer health literacy.