Evaluation of the relationship between compliance with the follow-up and treatment protocol and health literacy in bladder tumor patients

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> To investigate the relationship between the compliance of bladder cancer patients with cystoscopic follow-up and the treatment protocol, and their health literacy. <b>Methods:</b> Patients who underwent transurethral resection surgery for bladder tumor were found to have non-muscular invasive bladder carcinoma on pathology examination and then underwent cystoscopic follow-up for 1 year or more were included in the study. Cystoscopic follow-up was recommended to the low- and high-risk groups in terms of progression and recurrence. The patients were evaluated with the Health Literacy Survey-European Union scale. <b>Results:</b> The mean age of the patients was 67.13 ± 10.77 years. The treatment continuity rate was 80.50% (<i>n</i> = 33) in the adequate health literacy group (<i>n</i> = 41) and significantly higher than the 56.50% (<i>n</i> = 48) rate in the inadequate health literacy group (<i>n</i> = 85) (<i>p</i> = .008). The health literacy results revealed that the health promotion and general index score was higher in the group of patients under the age of 65. <b>Conclusions:</b> Adequate health literacy in bladder cancer patients is associated with better compliance with the treatment protocol. Young patients show better compliance with the follow-up protocol recommended by the physician. Increasing the follow-up protocol compliance of elderly patients with inadequate health literacy is necessary.