The Effect of Health Literacy on Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life among Turkish Cancer Patients

Objective: To assess the effect of health literacy on cancer patients' self-efficacy and quality of life. Methods: The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from June 15 to November 15, 2017, at the Private Unit Hospital in Eskisehir, Turkey, and comprised cancer patients aged 18 years or above who were treated in the Medical Oncology clinics and who had received less than four points on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scale. Data were collected using the European Health Literacy Survey, the Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life-C30 scale. Results: Of the 111 patients, 83(74.8%) were females. The overall mean age was 55.62 +/- 12.75 years. With a mean score of 36.09 +/- 6.42, the sample had 'sufficient health literacy'. There was a positive and significant relationship between the European Health Literacy Survey score and the general health subscale score (p=0.036), and a negative and significant relationship with the symptom subscale score (p<0.01). A statistically significant positive relationship was found between the Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale and the functional (p<0.001) and general health (p<0.001) subscales while a statistically significant negative relationship (p<0.001) was found between the Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale and the symptom subscale. Conclusion: Increased literacy levels were found in cancer patients and it helped in improving in their self-efficacy, general health and functional status.