EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREOPERATIVE PATIENT ANXIETY LEVEL AND HEALTH LITERACY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: Sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, and educational status are factors associated with preoperative anxiety. Health literacy may be the influencing factor in different results obtained in various studies regarding the relationship between educational status and preoperative anxiety. Materials and Methods: This prospective survey was carried out on 155 patients scheduled for elective surgery at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology between September and November 2019. Sociodemographic and basic health status data were recorded using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) and the Health Literacy Index (HLI). Results: While there was a highly statistically significant difference between average scores of the access, understanding and appraisal of health information subscales according to the HLI (p0,05). A negative medium level relationship was found between average scores of the STAI-I and the HLI (r=-0,424) and application subscale (r=-0,482), and a negative low level relationship was found between the overall STAI-I and the access (r=-0,335), understanding (r=-0,368) and appraisal of health information (r=-0,353) subscales. Conclusions: It was concluded that the low level of health literacy may be effective in the increased preoperative anxiety levels in patients, and further studies are required to be conducted in this matter.