Evaluation of the health literacy in patients with stroke and relationship between health literacy and functional status on quality of life in patients with stroke

Abstract

Aims: This study was aimed to evaluate the health literacy in patients with stroke and relationship between health literacy and functional status on quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study was studied on 50 participants with stroke (mean age: 59.4±10.6 years) and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 61.7±10.1 years). Clinical and demographic and characteristics were recorded. Health literacy levels of the participants were assessed with the Turkish version of European Health Literacy Scale (EHLS-TR), Motor development for hand, upper and lover extremity with Brunnstrom staging, evaluation of health-related quality of life with Notthingham Health Profile (NHP), pain with assessed with numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: Age, gender, marital status, education, job and residential area were similar between the groups. The EHLS-TR scores were significantly lower, in patients with stroke compared to the control group (p=0.041δ). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between EHLS-TR scores, age and positive correlation with educational status. EHLS-TR scores were found to be higher in patients younger than 60 years old and university graduates. Health releated quality of life levels are similar between the groups. EHLS-TR scores were found to be statistically effective on Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) total scores (rho:-0,357 and p=0,011) and also physical activity sub domain and energy level sub domains. There was moderate negative correlation between the EHLS-TR scores and NHP energy sub domain (p=0.002, r:-0.436) and weak negative correlation between the EHLS-TR scores and NHP emotional, sleep, physical activity sub domains (r:-0.279 p=0.049, r:-0.344 p=0.015, r:-0.288 p=0.043). There was no correlation between the EHLS-TR scores and Brunnstrom staging, Functional ambulation and pain levels in patients with stroke. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that healthy literacy level is lower in patients with stroke compared to healthy controls. In addition, healthy literacy is associated with age and education. Health literacy has been found to have an impact on quality of life and energy, emotional, sleep and physical activity subdomains of NHP. There was no association found between functional status on health literacy in this patient population.