To compare the health literacy (HL) of the adult females with SUI complaints in terms of their acceptance or non-acceptance of surgery.
In this cohort study, the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU- Q47) scores as a measure of health literacy were compared among the two groups of patients who accepted to undergo surgery for SUI and the ones who did not. Demographic features, weight and BMI values, comorbidity, menopausal status, duration and type of UI, socioeconomic characteristics (marital status, educational level, level of income) and HLS-EU- Q47 survey results of the two groups were compared. We also investigated the reasons regarding the acceptance or refusal of SUI surgery.
Among the patients who were offered surgery 474% accepted to undergo operation. Total HLS-EU-Q47 score was 30.04 in the group of patients who accepted surgery and 23.46 in the group who refused surgery. The patients that refused surgery had more often insufficient health literacy level (p=0.001). An excellent health literacy level was higher for patients who agreed to anti-incontinence surgery (p=0.021).
Health literacy score of patients with urinary incontinence (UI) who refused surgery was lower than those who accepted surgery. Acceptance of surgery may be increased by providing more understandable and clear information, especially for women with lower HL levels.
Journal of gynecology obstetrics and human reproduction. 2020 Sep 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Ismail Biyik, Ayse Nur Usturali Mut, Mustafa Albayrak, Bilgen Kucuk, Omer Koras, Fatih Keskin, Hakan Demirci
Kütahya Health Sciences University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kütahya, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Ankara University Medical School, Public Health Department, Division of Epidemiology, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Florence Nightingale Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ., University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Department of Family Medicine, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Mustafakemalpasa State Hospital, Department of Urology, Turkey. Electronic address: ., Mustafakemalpasa State Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkey. Electronic address: ., University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Department of Family Medicine, Turkey. Electronic address: .