Investigation of the relationship between mental health literacy of adults and attitude towards seeking psychological help and stigma by the immediate environment.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the relationship between mental health literacy and attitudes toward psychological help-seeking and stigma by the immediate environment. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted with 352 parents in 2021. FINDINGS: It was observed that there was a significant positive relationship between mental health literacy level and attitude toward psychological help-seeking. There was a negative relationship between mental health literacy level and stigma by the immediate environment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results point to the need for interventions to improve mental health literacy in society.

Associated factors with treatment adherence of patients diagnosed with chronic disease: Relationship with health literacy.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the health literacy level and treatment adherence in patients with chronic disease. BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to treatment and insufficient health literacy can cause a decrease in understanding treatment methods, an increase in medication errors, and an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised a total of 200 patients who were taking medication for a chronic disease. Data were collected using an 18-item questionnaire for sociodemographic and medical characteristics, the Adult Health Literacy Scale (AHLS), and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). RESULTS: Of the patients, 42.5% reported that they took three or more medications per day, and 32.0% reported that they did not know the side effects of these medications. Of the patients, 39.0% had low adherence to treatment. The mean score of the AHLS was 12.8 ± 4.74 (min = 2; max = 21). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the AHLS scores and MMAS scores (r = 0.604; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients' adherence to treatment increased as their health literacy increased. Thus, it is recommended that health literacy levels of the patients be raised through effective interventions to ensure better adherence to treatment.

Health literacy of nursing students and its effective factors.

BACKGROUND: The insufficiency of health literacy negatively affects the national economy as it leads to increased health service expenditure. It is very important for individuals to have accurate health-related information to reduce these negative effects. AIM: The aim of the study is to examine the health literacy of nursing students and its effective factors. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out with students from the nursing department of a vocational school of health sciences between September and October 2018 in Turkey. A semi-structured questionnaire regarding the descriptive features of the participants and the European Health Literacy Scale were used for data collection. RESULTS: The study included 283 nursing students; 29.3% had a problematic-limited health literacy level. The study found a statically significant difference between student year, high school graduation and family's income level and the total mean score of the HLS-EU scale. CONCLUSION: The subject of health literacy should be integrated into the educational program of nursing students. The nurses are the most important workforce in health services, and awareness about this subject should be raised.