Yaşlılarda Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ve Yaşam Kalitesi İlişkisi

Objective: This study was planned to determine the relationship between health literacy and quality of life in the elderly. Methods: The study population elderly aged 65 years and over admitted to the registered to family health centers affiliated to Erzurum Provincial Health Directorate center between May 2019 and June 2019. The sample of the study consisted of 253 elderly individuals. The study was completed with 204 individuals who admitted to the family health center at the specified dates and agreed to participate in the study. In the data collection, Quality of Life in Elderly Scale and Health Literacy Scale, and Sociodemographic Questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher, were used. Data were analyzed with arithmetic mean, standard deviation, independent groups t-test, ANOVA, Welch ANOVA, Bonferroni and the correlation tests. Results: It was determined that 59.3% of the elderly who participated in the research were male, 61.3% were primary school graduates, 66.7% were individuals who did not read, and 54.9% described their health status as good. The mean Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale score was 20.73±9.51, and the Health Literacy Scale mean score was 46.90±9.21. In the correlation analysis between health literacy and quality of life scales in the elderly, a positive correlation was found. Conclusion: The level of health literacy in the elderly was found to be moderate and the quality of life was below average, and it was concluded the increase of health literacy in the elderly can be effective on their quality of life.