Influence of health literacy on primary healthcare utilization

Deniz Çınaroğlu; Meryem Çakır

Makale detayları

Influence of health literacy on primary healthcare utilization

Yazarlar:

Deniz Çınaroğlu | Meryem Çakır

Yayıncı:

Cukurova University

Ana Başlıklar:

Acil Tıp | Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Cukurova Medical Journal Vol.50 Issue 3, pp.770-781

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357846

pISSN:

2602-3032

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the health literacy levels of individuals presenting to the emergency department with non-life-threatening and ambulatory care-appropriate conditions, and to investigate the relationship between health literacy defined as the ability to access, understand, and apply health information and primary care utilization. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between May and October 2023 at the green triage section of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital emergency department. A total of 326 participants were included. Health literacy was assessed using validated Turkish versions of REALM and NVS instruments. Sociodemographic data and healthcare utilization habits were collected via face-to-face interviews. Results: A total of 81.5 of particpants did not consult a family physician prior to their ED visit. According to REALM, 71.2 of participants had adequate health literacy, while this rate was 44.9 according to NVS. Chronic illness was reported by 43.7, and 36.9 were on regular medication. Frequent family physician utilization was higher among women 57.8, those with higher education 34.6 with university or higher, health insurance coverage 77.9, chronic disease 43.7, and regular medication use 36.9. Health insurance increased the likelihood of family physician visits by 2.9 times, and regular medication use increased it by 3 times. Conclusion: Many emergency department visits could be managed at the primary care level. Enhancing health literacy particularly functional literacy, which involves individuals ability to understand, interpret, and effectively apply health information in real-life situations and improving access to and the perception of family medicine services may help reduce potentially avoidable emergency department visits and contribute to more efficient health service delivery.

 Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the health literacy levels of individuals presenting to the emergency department with non-life-threatening and ambulatory care-appropriate conditions, and to investigate the relationship between health literacy defined as the ability to access, understand, and apply health information and primary care utilization. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between May and October 2023 at the green triage section of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital emergency department. A total of 326 participants were included. Health literacy was assessed using validated Turkish versions of REALM and NVS instruments. Sociodemographic data and healthcare utilization habits were collected via face-to-face interviews. Results: A total of 81.5 of particpants did not consult a family physician prior to their ED visit. According to REALM, 71.2 of participants had adequate health literacy, while this rate was 44.9 according to NVS. Chronic illness was reported by 43.7, and 36.9 were on regular medication. Frequent family physician utilization was higher among women 57.8, those with higher education 34.6 with university or higher, health insurance coverage 77.9, chronic disease 43.7, and regular medication use 36.9. Health insurance increased the likelihood of family physician visits by 2.9 times, and regular medication use increased it by 3 times. Conclusion: Many emergency department visits could be managed at the primary care level. Enhancing health literacy particularly functional literacy, which involves individuals ability to understand, interpret, and effectively apply health information in real-life situations and improving access to and the perception of family medicine services may help reduce potentially avoidable emergency department visits and contribute to more efficient health service delivery.

 Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the health literacy levels of individuals presenting to the emergency department with non-life-threatening and ambulatory care-appropriate conditions, and to investigate the relationship between health literacy defined as the ability to access, understand, and apply health information and primary care utilization. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between May and October 2023 at the green triage section of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital emergency department. A total of 326 participants were included. Health literacy was assessed using validated Turkish versions of REALM and NVS instruments. Sociodemographic data and healthcare utilization habits were collected via face-to-face interviews. Results: A total of 81.5 of particpants did not consult a family physician prior to their ED visit. According to REALM, 71.2 of participants had adequate health literacy, while this rate was 44.9 according to NVS. Chronic illness was reported by 43.7, and 36.9 were on regular medication. Frequent family physician utilization was higher among women 57.8, those with higher education 34.6 with university or higher, health insurance coverage 77.9, chronic disease 43.7, and regular medication use 36.9. Health insurance increased the likelihood of family physician visits by 2.9 times, and regular medication use increased it by 3 times. Conclusion: Many emergency department visits could be managed at the primary care level. Enhancing health literacy particularly functional literacy, which involves individuals ability to understand, interpret, and effectively apply health information in real-life situations and improving access to and the perception of family medicine services may help reduce potentially avoidable emergency department visits and contribute to more efficient health service delivery.

 Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, acil servise hayati tehlike içermeyen ve ayaktan tedavi edilebilecek nedenlerle başvuran bireylerin sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeylerini sağlık bilgilerine ulaşma, anlama ve uygulama becerisi olarak tanımlanan sağlık okuryazarlığı değerlendirmek ve sağlık okuryazarlığı ile birinci basamak sağlık hizmeti kullanım sıklığı arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel analitik tasarıma sahip bu çalışma, MayısEkim 2023 tarihleri arasında İzmir Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesinin acil servis yeşil alan bölümünde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmaya 326 katılımcı dahil edilmiştir. Sağlık okuryazarlığı, Türkçe geçerliliği yapılmış REALM ve NVS ölçekleriyle değerlendirilmiştir. Katılımcıların sosyodemografik özellikleri ve sağlık hizmeti kullanımları yüz yüze görüşmelerle toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların 81,5i acil servis başvurusu öncesinde aile hekimine başvurmamıştır. REALMa göre katılımcıların 71,2si yeterli sağlık okuryazarlığına sahipken, NVSye göre bu oran 44,9dur. Katılımcıların 43,7sinde kronik hastalık mevcut olup 36,9u düzenli ilaç kullanmaktadır. Aile hekimine başvuru sıklığı, kadın cinsiyet 57,8, yüksek eğitim düzeyi 34,6 üniversite ve üzeri, sağlık güvencesi varlığı 77,9, kronik hastalık 43,7 ve düzenli ilaç kullanımı 36,9 ile daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Sağlık güvencesine sahip olanların aile hekimine başvurma olasılığı 2,9 kat, düzenli ilaç kullananların ise 3 kat artmıştır. Sonuç: Acil servise yapılan birçok başvuru birinci basamakta karşılanabilir durumdadır. Bireylerin sağlık bilgilerini gerçek yaşam durumlarında anlama, yorumlama ve etkili bir şekilde uygulama becerisini içeren işlevsel sağlık okuryazarlığının artırılması ve aile hekimliği hizmetlerinin erişilebilirliği ile algısının iyileştirilmesi, önlenebilir acil servis başvurularının azaltılmasına ve sağlık hizmet sunumunun etkinliğinin artırılmasına katkı sağlayabilir.

Makale detayları

Influence of health literacy on primary healthcare utilization

Yazarlar:

Deniz Çınaroğlu | Meryem Çakır

Yayıncı:

Cukurova University

Ana Başlıklar:

Acil Tıp | Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Cukurova Medical Journal Vol.50 Issue 3, pp.770-781

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357846

pISSN:

2602-3032

Health Literacy

Emergency Department

Family Medicineacil servis

aile hekimliği

sağlık okuryazarlığı

Sayı

Makale detayları

Influence of health literacy on primary healthcare utilization

Yazarlar: Deniz Çınaroğlu | Meryem Çakır

Yayıncı: Cukurova University

Ana Başlıklar: Acil Tıp | Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi: Cukurova Medical Journal Vol.50 Issue 3, pp.770-781

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357846

pISSN: 2602-3032

Health Literacy

Emergency Department

Family Medicineacil servis

aile hekimliği

sağlık okuryazarlığı

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Deniz Çınaroğlu | Meryem Çakır

Yayıncı:

Cukurova University

Ana Başlıklar:

Acil Tıp | Klinik Tıp Bilimleri (Diğer)

Dergi:

Cukurova Medical Journal Vol.50 Issue 3, pp.770-781

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357846

pISSN:

2602-3032