Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic

Aim:Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to knowledge and beliefs regarding recognizing, managing, and preventing mental health disorders. It is critical in the early diagnosis of mental health diseases. This study aimed to determine the symptom levels of individuals for anxiety and depression and to...

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Main Authors: Sibel TUNÇ KARAMAN, Çağla ALTUN, Okcan BASAT
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Yayincilik 2022-09-01
Series:Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access: http://namikkemalmedj.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/evaluation-of-mental-health-literacy-status-of-pat/52970
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author Sibel TUNÇ KARAMAN
Çağla ALTUN
Okcan BASAT
author_facet Sibel TUNÇ KARAMAN
Çağla ALTUN
Okcan BASAT
author_sort Sibel TUNÇ KARAMAN
collection DOAJ
description Aim:Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to knowledge and beliefs regarding recognizing, managing, and preventing mental health disorders. It is critical in the early diagnosis of mental health diseases. This study aimed to determine the symptom levels of individuals for anxiety and depression and to evaluate their MHL status.Materials and Methods:This prospective study was designed as descriptive and single-centered. The study was performed with patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years, who were admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital and who met the inclusion criteria. The participants’ sociodemographic and medical characteristics were questioned by the Patient Information Form. Symptom levels for anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and MHL levels were determined with the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS).Results:The mean age of 327 participants was 38.95±11.94 years, and most were female (n=216; 66.1%). According to HADS, the mean anxiety score was 7.90±4.54, and the mean depression score was 6.97±4.36. The mean total MHLS score was 14.05±3.49, the mean knowledge subscale score was 7.56±1.93, the mean belief subscale score was 4.17±1.83, and the mean resource subscale score was 2.28±1.54. An inverse and significant correlation was determined between age and MHLS total score (p=0.001). There was a significant difference in education levels regarding MHLS total score (p=0.000). An inverse and significant correlation was observed between MHL total score and HADS anxiety and depression scores (p=0.041, p=0.000, respectively).Conclusion:In our study, MHL was determined to be at a moderate level, and it was lower in those with high symptom levels for anxiety and depression. On the other hand, MHL level was also negatively affected by advanced age and the presence of chronic diseases, and it was higher in those with higher education levels, those who were married, and those who worked in any job.
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spelling doaj.art-0ef0f57ac0dc4461bed758d706d80cbf2023-02-15T16:11:21ZengGalenos YayincilikNamık Kemal Tıp Dergisi2587-02622022-09-0110324124710.4274/nkmj.galenos.2022.4326513049054Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient ClinicSibel TUNÇ KARAMAN0Çağla ALTUN1Okcan BASAT2 Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Gaziosmanpaşa Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Aile Hekimliği Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Gaziosmanpaşa Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Aile Hekimliği Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Gaziosmanpaşa Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Aile Hekimliği Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye Aim:Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to knowledge and beliefs regarding recognizing, managing, and preventing mental health disorders. It is critical in the early diagnosis of mental health diseases. This study aimed to determine the symptom levels of individuals for anxiety and depression and to evaluate their MHL status.Materials and Methods:This prospective study was designed as descriptive and single-centered. The study was performed with patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years, who were admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital and who met the inclusion criteria. The participants’ sociodemographic and medical characteristics were questioned by the Patient Information Form. Symptom levels for anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and MHL levels were determined with the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS).Results:The mean age of 327 participants was 38.95±11.94 years, and most were female (n=216; 66.1%). According to HADS, the mean anxiety score was 7.90±4.54, and the mean depression score was 6.97±4.36. The mean total MHLS score was 14.05±3.49, the mean knowledge subscale score was 7.56±1.93, the mean belief subscale score was 4.17±1.83, and the mean resource subscale score was 2.28±1.54. An inverse and significant correlation was determined between age and MHLS total score (p=0.001). There was a significant difference in education levels regarding MHLS total score (p=0.000). An inverse and significant correlation was observed between MHL total score and HADS anxiety and depression scores (p=0.041, p=0.000, respectively).Conclusion:In our study, MHL was determined to be at a moderate level, and it was lower in those with high symptom levels for anxiety and depression. On the other hand, MHL level was also negatively affected by advanced age and the presence of chronic diseases, and it was higher in those with higher education levels, those who were married, and those who worked in any job. http://namikkemalmedj.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/evaluation-of-mental-health-literacy-status-of-pat/52970 family medicineanxietydepressionmental healthmental health literacy
spellingShingle Sibel TUNÇ KARAMAN
Çağla ALTUN
Okcan BASAT
Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi
family medicine
anxiety
depression
mental health
mental health literacy
title Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
title_full Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
title_fullStr Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
title_short Evaluation of Mental Health Literacy Status of Patients Admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic
title_sort evaluation of mental health literacy status of patients admitted to the family medicine outpatient clinic
topic family medicine
anxiety
depression
mental health
mental health literacy
url http://namikkemalmedj.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/evaluation-of-mental-health-literacy-status-of-pat/52970
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