The impact of health literacy levels on women’s fear of contracting Covid-19 and their attitudes toward holistic complementary and alternative medicine: Mediation analysis results

Abstract

Researchers aim to examine mediating variable role of health literacy in the relationship between fear of contracting Covid-19 in women and use of holistic complementary alternative medicine. The study was conducted as descriptive cross-sectional. The researchers collected study data by conducting an online questionnaire from 285 women between April 01 and June 30, 2021. In our study, a significant relationship was found between education level and health literacy, having a chronic illness, not being able to find a permanent job and fear of Covid-19 (p < 0.05). Positive correlation exists between fear of contracting Covid-19 and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practice (correlation between HCAM Practice β=.21). When health literacy variable is included, the level of relationship decreases (β=.18). The researchers determined that as the level of health literacy increased, the women resorted to HCAM practices less despite their fear of contracting Covid-19.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge participants who took part in this study.

Authors contribution

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Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethics approval

Written permission (2021-02-17T15_38_51) from the General Directorate of Health Services of Ministry of Health of Republic of Turkey and permission from the Human Research Ethics Committee of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University (dated 01.03.2021 and numbered 2021/90) were obtained for the research. The online questionnaire was sent to the participants with an invitation letter that includes information about the purpose of the research, confidentiality, voluntary basis, and consent. Consent of the participants was obtained. The research was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.