The Relationship Between Health Literacy, Quality of Life, and Physical Activity Level of Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the health literacy of patients receiving hemodialysis and to determine the relationship between health literacy, quality of life, and physical activity level. Methods: The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design with 113 hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria and who were treated at a Private Dialysis Center between September and October 2023. Personal Information Form, European Health Literacy Scale Turkish Adaptation, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Scale were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using percentage distributions, means, standard deviation, median values, Pearson and Spearman Correlation Analysis, Chi-Square Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance, and p<0.05 was accepted as the cut-off value for statistical significance. Results: The health literacy level of hemodialysis patients was found to be "problematic" with a mean total scale score of 25.9±82 points. 48.7% of the patients had low physical activity level. Statistical differences were found between personal characteristics such as age, marital status and educational status and health literacy dimensions (p<0.05). While a statistically significant relationship was found between health literacy and physical activity value (p<0.05), no statistically significant relationship was found with quality of life (p>0.05). Conclusions: Hemodialysis patients should be evaluated at regular intervals individualized interventions should be developed and patients should be guided to increase their health literacy and physical activity levels.