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Health-Promoting Behaviors, Health Literacy, and Levels of Knowledge about Smoking-Related Diseases among Smokers and Non-smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

For generations, cigarette smoking has presented an important public health concern. This study aimed to compare the health-promoting behavior, exercise capacity, physical activity level, health literacy, and knowledge level of smoking-related diseases between smokers and non-smokers.

Methods

The study included 71 smokers (mean age, 32.69±8.55 years) and 72 non-smokers (mean age, 31.88±9.94 years) between the ages of 20 and 60 years. Assessments included a 6-minute walking test (6MWT), Godin Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II), Cardiovascular Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale (CARRF-KL), Asthma/COPD Awareness Questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref [TR]), and Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ).

Results

The results from the study show that the number of coronary artery disease risk factors measured significantly higher among the smoker group members when compared to that of the non-smoker group members (p=0.001). Smokers had significantly lower %6MWT distance than non-smokers (84.83±4.72 and 93.45±7.16, respectively; p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the smokers and non-smokers in terms of physical activity, CARRF-KL, HLQ, WHOQoL-Bref, and HPLP-II subscales or total scores (p>0.05). Additionally, while only forty-one smokers (57.7%) were active, 48 of the non-smoker group was active (66.7%).

Conclusion

Smokers suffer greater negative effects to their exercise capacity in comparison to non-smokers. Although smokers and non-smokers have similar levels of health literacy and similar levels of knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk factors and obstructive lung diseases, health professionals could continue to further increase individuals' awareness of smoking-related risk factors and continue to emphasize the importance of physical activity and exercise for protecting cardiopulmonary health.

SUBMITTER: Celebi C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8010416 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background:Understanding of risk factors and developing healthy lifestyles is a way of tackling the surging burden of chronic diseases in low-to-middle income countries such as Nepal. Health literacy (HL) has a pivotal role in prevention, adherence to treatment, self-care, and better use of health care; therefore, factors associated with HL need to be studied in the context of Nepal. Objective:This study was conducted to assess the level of HL and explore disease-specific knowledge among patients with chronic diseases. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 respondents with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from a tertiary care hospital and primary care clinics using face-to-face interviews. HL was measured using a translated and pretested HL questionnaire (the Europe-Asia Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire). Disease-related knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Key Results:The study found that 27% of the respondents had sufficient HL, 19% had marginal HL, and 54% had inadequate HL. Factors associated with inadequate HL included being older and female, and having lower or no education, unemployment or retired status, poverty, and having a history of smoking or a history of consuming alcohol. HL was a strong predictor of knowledge regarding hypertension (? = 0.32; p < .05), diabetes mellitus (? = 0.41; p < .05), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (? = 0.37; p < .05) in multiple regression analyses after adjusting for age, gender, education, marriage, family history of disease, attendance at follow-up clinics at recommended intervals, information received regarding disease at clinics, smoking, and alcohol intake. Conclusions:A sufficient level of HL was uncommon among participants in our study. People with sufficient HL knew significantly more about their diseases or conditions than those with inadequate HL. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2018;2(4):e221-e230.]. Plain Language Summary:Very little is known about health literacy in Nepal. We conducted a study to learn how much people in Nepal with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease knew about their condition and sought to check its association with health literacy. We found that more than one-half of the participants did not have adequate health literacy levels. Participants who were older, female, uneducated, retired from work, or poor had lower levels of health literacy. We also found that those with high levels of health literacy had better knowledge of their disease. Therefore, we recommend that in Nepal health literacy should be measured for each patient and support regarding management of his or her condition should be provided if necessary.

Project description:BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet has significantly spread information, providing people with knowledge and advice about health protection regarding COVID-19. While a previous study demonstrated that health and eHealth literacy are related to COVID-19 prevention behaviors, few studies have focused on the relationship between health literacy, eHealth literacy, and COVID-19-related health behaviors. The latter includes not only preventative behaviors but also conventional health behaviors.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to develop and verify a COVID-19-related health behavior questionnaire, explore its status and structure, and examine the associations between these behaviors and participants' health literacy and eHealth literacy.MethodsA snowball sampling method was adopted to recruit participants to complete anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire surveys online that assessed sociodemographic information, self-reported coronavirus knowledge, health literacy, eHealth literacy, and COVID-19-related health behaviors.ResultsOf 1873 college students who were recruited, 781 (41.7%) had adequate health literacy; the mean eHealth literacy score was 30.16 (SD 6.31). The COVID-19-related health behavior questionnaire presented a two-factor structure-COVID-19-specific precautionary behaviors and conventional health behaviors-with satisfactory fit indices and internal consistency (Cronbach α=.79). The mean score of COVID-19-related health behaviors was 53.77 (SD 8.03), and scores differed significantly (P<.05) with respect to residence, college year, academic major, family economic level, self-reported health status, having a family member or friend infected with coronavirus, and health literacy level. Linear regression analysis showed that health literacy and eHealth literacy were positively associated with COVID-19-specific precautionary behaviors (βhealth literacy=.149, βeHealth literacy=.368; P<.001) and conventional health behaviors (βhealth literacy=.219, βeHealth literacy=.277; P<.001).ConclusionsThe COVID-19-related health behavior questionnaire was a valid and reliable measure for assessing health behaviors during the pandemic. College students with higher health literacy and eHealth literacy can more actively adopt COVID-19-related health behaviors. Additionally, compared to health literacy, eHealth literacy is more closely related to COVID-19-related health behaviors. Public intervention measures based on health and eHealth literacy are required to promote COVID-19-related health behaviors during the pandemic, which may be helpful to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection among college students.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Given the recognized importance of preventing poor dietary behaviors during adolescence, we need a better understanding of college students' dietary behaviors. Studies have found that individual factors and electronic health (eHealth) literacy may affect one's dietary behaviors. However, few studies have fully investigated the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical) and the interactive effect of individual factors (eg, gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking) and the three levels of eHealth literacy on the four aspects of dietary behaviors (consumer health, balanced diet, regular eating habits, and unhealthy food intake). OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to investigate whether individual differences and higher eHealth literacy are associated with more positive dietary behaviors and less unhealthy dietary intake. METHODS:The eHealth Literacy Scale is a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students' functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy. The Dietary Behaviors Scale is a 14-item instrument developed to measure four aspects of dietary behaviors of college students. A questionnaire was administered to collect background information about participants' gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking. A national sample of college students was surveyed, and 813 responses were obtained. We conducted a multiple regression analysis to examine the association among individual factors, eHealth literacy, and dietary behaviors. RESULTS:This study found that functional eHealth literacy was negatively related to unhealthy food intake (beta=-.11; P=.01), and interactive eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.25; P<.001) and consumer health (beta=.15; P=.02). Moreover, critical eHealth literacy was positively related to consumer health (beta=.30; P<.001) and regular eating habits (beta=.20; P=.002). Finally, the interactive effect between gender and interactive eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=-.22; P<.001). The interactive effect between monthly expenses and functional eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.07; P=.03), although the interactive effect between monthly expenses and critical eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=-.10; P=.047). CONCLUSIONS:This study showed that Taiwanese college students with higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in fewer unhealthy food consumption practices. Those who had higher interactive and critical eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in positive dietary behaviors than those with functional eHealth literacy. Surprisingly, females with high interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a poor balanced diet. In contrast, students with higher monthly expenses and higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to have a balanced diet. However, students with higher monthly expenses and higher critical eHealth literacy were less likely to maintain a balanced diet.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Modification of health literacy (HL) is an important factor for improving and maintaining oral health. The aim of the study is to examine the association of HL with oral health-promoting behaviour (OHPB) and assess possible mediating effects of HL on the impact of socioeconomic status on OHPB. METHODS:A cross-sectional questionnaire survey on the Slovak general adult population (N?=?360, mean age 39) was conducted in 2014 and 2015. The association of HL (9 domains of the Health Literacy Questionnaire) and OHPB was analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for gender, age and educational level. Testing the mediating effect of HL domains between education attainment and OHPB was performed using the Sobel test. RESULTS:Women and respondents with higher education reported better OHPB. Regular tooth-brushing is associated with better HL in five domains: Feeling understood and supported by healthcare provider, Having sufficient information to manage my health, Activelymanaging my health, Social support for health, Appraisal of health information (Odds ratios (ORs) from 1.64 to 2.33, p?<?0.05). Using interdental tools is in association with better HL in two domains: Feeling understood and supported by a healthcare provider and Having sufficient information to manage my health (ORs 1.71 to 1.80, p?<?0.05). Respondents who visited a dentist for prevention score higher in Social support for health (OR 1.79, p?<?0.05). Using a tongue scraper and single brush and reporting gums bleeding is notstatistically significantly associated with HL. Mediation was confirmed between the effect of respondents' education on using fluoride toothpaste - mediated respondent's ability to find good health information. Frequency of tooth-brushing and using interdental hygiene aids were both mediated by patient's sufficient information to manage health. CONCLUSIONS:Our results indicate HL to be an important factor related to good oral health, and HL should be considered when planning oral health interventions.

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Project description:BackgroundThe increasing amount of health information available on the internet makes it more important than ever to ensure that people can judge the accuracy of this information to prevent them from harm. It may be possible for platforms to set up protective mechanisms depending on the level of digital health literacy and thereby to decrease the possibility of harm by the misuse of health information.ObjectiveThis study aimed to create an instrument for digital health literacy assessment (DHLA) based on the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) to categorize participants by level of risk of misinterpreting health information into high-, medium-, and low-risk groups.MethodsThis study developed a DHLA and constructed an online health information bank with correct and incorrect answers. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to detect the cutoff value of DHLA, using 5 items randomly selected from the online health information bank, to classify users as being at low, medium, or high risk of misjudging health information. This provided information about the relationship between risk group for digital health literacy and accurate judgement of online health information. The study participants were Taiwanese residents aged 20 years and older. Snowball sampling was used, and internet questionnaires were anonymously completed by the participants. The reliability and validity of DHLA were examined. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with risk groups from the DHLA.ResultsThis study collected 1588 valid questionnaires. The online health information bank included 310 items of health information, which were classified as easy (147 items), moderate (122 items), or difficult (41 items) based on the difficulty of judging their accuracy. The internal consistency of DHLA was satisfactory (α=.87), and factor analysis of construct validity found three factors, accounting for 76.6% of the variance. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis found 106 people at high risk, 1368 at medium risk, and 114 at low risk of misinterpreting health information. Of the original grouped cases, 89.6% were correctly classified after discriminate analysis. Logistic regression analysis showed that participants with a high risk of misjudging health information had a lower education level, lower income, and poorer health. They also rarely or never browsed the internet. These differences were statistically significant.ConclusionsThe DHLA score could distinguish those at low, medium, and high risk of misjudging health information on the internet. Health information platforms on the internet could consider incorporating DHLA to set up a mechanism to protect users from misusing health information and avoid harming their health.