Health Literacy, Physical and Cognitive Function, Health-related Behaviors, and Quality of Life in COPD

An Investigation of Health Literacy, Physical and Cognitive Function, Health-related Behaviors, and Quality of Life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Healthy Individuals

Health literacy is important for controlling disease progression and living a healthy life with illness. High health literacy is associated with higher cognitive performance and lower health-related quality of life. Physical, psychological, and social impairments are seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies investigating the relationship between health literacy and functional capacity, quality of life, physical activity, cognitive function, health-related behavior, and activities of daily living in individuals with COPD are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare individuals with COPD with healthy individuals in terms of health literacy, functional capacity, quality of life, physical activity, cognitive function, health-related behavior, and activities of daily living and to investigate the relationship between health literacy and functional capacity, quality of life, physical activity, cognitive function, health-related behavior, and activities of daily living in individuals with COPD.

Inclusion criteria for the COPD group:

• Being over 40 years old,
• Diagnosed with COPD and being clinically stable,
• Being able to cooperate with the tests to be performed,
• Not having any cardiovascular disease, orthopedic or neurological problems that may affect the tests,
• Being willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria for the COPD group:

• Being in an acute exacerbation period,
• Having any cardiovascular disease, orthopedic or neurological problems that may affect the tests,
• Not being willing to participate in the study.

Inclusion criteria for the control group:

• Being willing to participate in the study and being over 40 years old
• Not having any known disease

Exclusion criteria for the control group:

• Not being able to cooperate with the tests to be performed
• Not being willing to participate in the study