Assessment of knowledge of metabolic syndrome and health literacy level among adults in Western Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an issue in the public health discipline. AIMS: The primary aim of this study is to assess the potential determinants for both knowledge level of metabolic syndrome and health literacy (HL) level among the adult population. The second purpose of this study is to show whether there is a relationship between the MetS knowledge level and the HL level in western Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 10, 2017 and November 15, 2017 in western Turkey. The participants of the study were adult population who applied to seven "family health centers". The MetS knowledge level was measured with the Metabolic Syndrome Knowledge Level Scale (MetS-KS). HL level was measured with the HLS-EU-Q16. A General Linear Model was constructed to evaluate the relationship between MetS-KS scores and HLS-EU-Q16 scores. For statistical significance, P < 0.05 was accepted. RESULTS: Younger age, having higher education level, being single, having a high family income, not having a chronic disease, doing regular physical activity, viewing television less than 3 hours a day, previous measurement of waist circumference, previous attempts to lose weight, not being abdominally obese, not being at risk for hypertension and not having optimal body mass index (BMI) were associated with high HL levels (P < 0.05 for each one). According to the general linear model, the level of HL was not related to the level of MetS knowledge level (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Younger age, having a high educational level, high socioeconomic level and positive health behaviors were related with both MetS knowledge level and HL level. However, there was no direct relationship between MetS knowledge level and HL level.

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in an urban population of Izmir-Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an urban area in Izmir, Turkey. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Balcova and Narlidere districts of Izmir and a total of 2,887 people aged 20 years or older were contacted with a 98.2% acceptance rate. Nine medical doctors administered an RA questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Subjects reporting a history of swelling in at least 2 joints lasting more than 4 continuous weeks or a history of a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory joint rheumatism or joint rheumatism were considered as screening positive and they were invited to come in for an examination. RA cases were defined by the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria modifiedfor use in population studies. RESULTS: A total of 301 subjects (243 women, 58 men), or 10.6% of those who received the questionnaire were screening positive. 240 (79.7%) of these agreed to undergo a clinical examination either in the clinic or at home. Among these, 14 (12 female, 2 male) patients fulfilled the ACR criteria for RA. The prevalence of RA was 0.49% (95% CI 0.27-0.83) in the total population interviewed, 0.77% (95% CI 0.40-1.35) in women and 0.15% (95%CI 0.02-0.60) in men. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence for the general population was estimated as 0.36%. Five of the 14 RA (36%) cases had not been diagnosed previously CONCLUSION: These data are consistent with the results of other Mediterranean countries. A significant proportion of RA cases remain undiagnosed in the community.