Effect of Health Literacy and Patient Activation on Health-Seeking Behaviour: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

Background

The study aimed to investigate the effect of health literacy and patient activation on health-seeking behaviour. In addition, the role of general health status and age variables in this effect was also addressed.

Methods

The research using quantitative methods is cross-sectional. The participant information form, health literacy scale, patient activation scale and health-seeking behaviour scale were used in the study. In addition to descriptive analyses, difference analysis, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the study. The study participants consisted of 1045 adult individuals living in Turkey.

Results

According to the correlation analysis results, it was determined that health literacy and patient activation were significantly positively associated with health-seeking behaviour. According to multiple linear regression analysis, the independent variables of health literacy, patient activation, age and general health status significantly affected health-seeking behaviour. Accordingly, patient activation and general health status positively affect health-seeking behaviour, while health literacy and age have a negative effect.

Conclusion

To positively improve individuals’ health-seeking behaviours, it is thought that it would be appropriate to focus on individuals whose general health status is not good, who are not actively involved in their treatment, who have high health literacy and who are elderly.

Patient or Public Contribution

Since the research examines the effect of patient activation and health literacy on health-seeking behaviour, it is of great importance for the research that the public and patients are included in the study from the design of the research to the presentation of the findings. The emergence of the study was made possible by the public and patients’ evaluations of the research topics and their participation in the survey.