Health Literacy, Mammogram Awareness and Screening Among Tertiary Hospital Women Patients

Abstract

In spite of high mortality rates and prevalence, breast cancer awareness and screening is low among Turkish women. This study aimed to determine level of health literacy, mammogram awareness, and screening among tertiary hospital women patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 519 patients aged between 40 and 69. A questionnaire was applied to women patients including demographic characteristics, health behaviors, mammogram awareness and screening, and health literacy tool. Mammogram awareness and screening were questioned according to the Turkish Breast Cancer Screening Standard. To assess health literacy level, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine was used. Over half of the women were aware of the mammogram age and 23.1 % had a mammogram within 2 years. Limited health literacy was high among patients, and it was significantly associated with lower mammogram awareness (OR 6.53; 95% CL 1.46–9.13) and screening (OR 1.12; 95% CL 0.45–2.80). Health literacy can be an advantageous opportunity on focal point of national cancer screening. Breast cancer education program and public health campaigns should be arranged according to women health literacy level.

The rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine (REALM)

Please, read aloud words as you can, beginning with the first word on List 1. When you come to a word you cannot read “blank,” and then go on to the next word on the list.

List 1	List 2	List 3
Fat	Fatigue	Allergic
Flue	Pelvic	Menstrual
Pill	Jaundice	Testicle
Dose	Infection	Colitis
Eye	Exercise	Emergency
Stress	Behavior	Medication
Smear	Prescription	Occupation
Nerves	Notify	Sexually
Germs	Gallbladder	Alcoholism
Meals	Calories	Irritation
Disease	Depression	Constipation
Cancer	Miscarriage	Gonorrhea
Caffeine	Pregnancy	Inflammatory
Attack	Arthritis	Diabetes
Kidney	Nutrition	Hepatitis
Hormones	Menopause	Antibiotics
Herpes	Appendix	Diagnosis
Seizure	Abnormal	Potassium
Bowel	Syphilis	Anemia
Asthma	Hemorrhoids	Obesity
Rectal	Nausea	Osteoporosis
Incest	Directed	Impetigo
Correctly pronounced word (+):	Correctly pronounced word (+):	Correctly pronounced word (+):
RAW SCORE:
RAW SCORE	READING LEVEL
0–18	Third grade and below: Patient won’t be able to read most low literacy materials. She will need repeated oral instructions or written materials composed of primarily of illustrations
19–44	Fourth to sixth grade: Patient will need low literacy materials and may not be able to read prescription labels.
45–60	Seventh to eighth grade: Patient will have trouble reading most patient education materials. Use low literacy materials.
61–66	High school: Patient will be able to read most patient education materials.

Many thanks for participating in our study.