Anxiety and Health Literacy Levels of Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy

Abstract

This descriptive, correlational study was conducted to determine the anxiety and health literacy levels of patients undergoing colonoscopy and the variables affecting them. The study population consisted of individuals who presented for colonoscopy to the endoscopy department of a state hospital. The sample consisted of 160 individuals who met the inclusion criteria. Three data collection tools (Identifying Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Health Literacy Scale) were used to determine anxiety and health literacy levels. Findings show that the state-trait anxiety of individuals who would undergo colonoscopy for the first time was moderate, and their health literacy scores were inadequate, problematic, and weak. There was a positive and significant relationship between patients' anxiety and health literacy levels. Variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, employment status, disease-related symptoms, a family history of cancer, and fear of colonoscopy influenced anxiety and health literacy. Based on these findings, we recommend that individuals' anxiety and health literacy status be determined before a colonoscopy procedure to improve gastroenterology nurses' management of these patients.