Abstract

Objective

Coronary artery disease is more common in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Its treatment process may take a long time, and it is a condition that can impair quality of life while being associated with individuals’ health literacy (HL) levels. This study aims to assess the HL and quality of life levels of individuals with coronary artery disease, explore the relationship between these variables, and identify the factors influencing them.

Material and Methods

The study was conducted with 64 coronary artery disease patients who visited a university hospital between November 2018 and May 2019. It was designed as a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the “sociodemographic data form,” “European HL scale (HLS-EU),” and “Nottingham health profile (NHP)”. Statistical analyses included chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman’s correlation tests.

Results

The mean age of participants was 61.1±12.9 years, with 60.9% being male, 46.9% having primary or secondary school education, and 40.6% actively employed. Among the participants, 62.5% were found to have inadequate or problematic HL levels. A significant negative correlation was observed between HL levels and NHP scores (r=-0.450, p≤0.05). Subscale scores of HLS-EU for “treatment services,” “disease prevention,” and “health promotion” also showed significant negative correlations with the NHP total score (p≤0.05). As HL levels improved, NHP scores and subscale scores for energy, emotional reactions, and physical activity decreased significantly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, individuals with coronary artery disease generally have low HL levels, which negatively impact their quality of life. While gender and education did not significantly influence quality of life, improving HL was associated with better health-related quality of life. Therefore, enhancing HL be a priority for interventions targeting this patient group.