Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Health Literacy in Common Pediatric Surgical Diseases

Nurcan Çoşkun; Tuba Kayır

Article Details

Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Health Literacy in Common Pediatric Surgical Diseases

Authors:

Nurcan Çoşkun | Tuba Kayır

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Çocuk Cerrahisi

Journal:

Hitit Medical Journal Vol.7 Issue 3, pp.401-412

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360234

pISSN:

2687-4717

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Objective: Pediatric surgical diseases are a significant public health issue due to their morbidity and burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess parents knowledge, attitudes, and health literacy regarding common surgical diseases and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic factors, as well as to explore the potential impact of these factors on pediatric surgical processes. Material and Method: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 121 parents of children aged 018 years presenting to family health centers were included. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire including sociodemographics, a 10-item knowledge test, a 10-item attitude scale, and the Health Literacy ScaleShort Form HLS-SF12. Statistical analyses involved t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation tests. Results: Of the participants, 71.1 were female and 51.2 were aged 3645. Knowledge levels were high for appendicitis and circumcision but low for hydrocele and undescended testis. Higher health literacy scores were significantly associated with female gender, higher education, urban residence, civil servant status, and higher income p0.05. Additionally, 55.4 of the participants stated that they looked for information online, but only 4.1 trusted social media. 57 directly consulted an expert, while 84.3 received a second expert opinion. Conclusion: Parents knowledge and health literacy are significantly affected by sociodemographic characteristics. Deficiencies in knowledge about common diseases that can lead to serious complications and timing of treatment can be overcome by strengthening the counseling role of family physicians and disseminating simple, reliable and comprehensible information resources for groups with low health literacy. Structured and systematic education programs, such as school-based initiatives and digital health platforms, could play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

 Objective: Pediatric surgical diseases are a significant public health issue due to their morbidity and burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess parents knowledge, attitudes, and health literacy regarding common surgical diseases and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic factors, as well as to explore the potential impact of these factors on pediatric surgical processes. Material and Method: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 121 parents of children aged 018 years presenting to family health centers were included. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire including sociodemographics, a 10-item knowledge test, a 10-item attitude scale, and the Health Literacy ScaleShort Form HLS-SF12. Statistical analyses involved t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation tests. Results: Of the participants, 71.1 were female and 51.2 were aged 3645. Knowledge levels were high for appendicitis and circumcision but low for hydrocele and undescended testis. Higher health literacy scores were significantly associated with female gender, higher education, urban residence, civil servant status, and higher income p0.05. Additionally, 55.4 of the participants stated that they looked for information online, but only 4.1 trusted social media. 57 directly consulted an expert, while 84.3 received a second expert opinion. Conclusion: Parents knowledge and health literacy are significantly affected by sociodemographic characteristics. Deficiencies in knowledge about common diseases that can lead to serious complications and timing of treatment can be overcome by strengthening the counseling role of family physicians and disseminating simple, reliable and comprehensible information resources for groups with low health literacy. Structured and systematic education programs, such as school-based initiatives and digital health platforms, could play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

 Objective: Pediatric surgical diseases are a significant public health issue due to their morbidity and burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess parents knowledge, attitudes, and health literacy regarding common surgical diseases and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic factors, as well as to explore the potential impact of these factors on pediatric surgical processes. Material and Method: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 121 parents of children aged 018 years presenting to family health centers were included. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire including sociodemographics, a 10-item knowledge test, a 10-item attitude scale, and the Health Literacy ScaleShort Form HLS-SF12. Statistical analyses involved t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation tests. Results: Of the participants, 71.1 were female and 51.2 were aged 3645. Knowledge levels were high for appendicitis and circumcision but low for hydrocele and undescended testis. Higher health literacy scores were significantly associated with female gender, higher education, urban residence, civil servant status, and higher income p0.05. Additionally, 55.4 of the participants stated that they looked for information online, but only 4.1 trusted social media. 57 directly consulted an expert, while 84.3 received a second expert opinion. Conclusion: Parents knowledge and health literacy are significantly affected by sociodemographic characteristics. Deficiencies in knowledge about common diseases that can lead to serious complications and timing of treatment can be overcome by strengthening the counseling role of family physicians and disseminating simple, reliable and comprehensible information resources for groups with low health literacy. Structured and systematic education programs, such as school-based initiatives and digital health platforms, could play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

 Amaç: Çocuklarda sık görülen cerrahi hastalıklar, morbidite ve sağlık sistemine yük açısından önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu çalışmada, ebeveynlerin yaygın cerrahi hastalıklara ilişkin bilgi, tutum ve sağlık okuryazarlıklarını değerlendirmek, bunların sosyodemografik faktörlerle ilişkisini incelemek ve bu faktörlerin pediatrik cerrahi süreçleri üzerindeki olası etkilerini araştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı nitelikteki çalışmaya, aile sağlığı merkezlerine başvuran, 018 yaş aralığında çocuğu bulunan 121 ebeveyn dahil edilmiştir. Veriler; sosyodemografik bilgiler, cerrahi hastalıklara yönelik 10 soruluk bilgi testi, 10 maddelik tutum ölçeği ve Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği  Kısa Form HLS-SF12dan oluşan anketle toplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizlerde t-testi, ANOVA ve korelasyon testleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların 71,1i kadın, 51,2si 3645 yaş aralığındadır. Apandisit ve sünnet hakkında bilgi düzeyi yüksek; hidrosel ve inmemiş testis gibi hastalıklarda bilgi eksiklikleri belirgindir. Yüksek Sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyi; kadın cinsiyet, yüksek eğitim, memuriyet, şehirde yaşama ve yüksek gelirle anlamlı ilişkilidir p0,05. Katılımcıların 55,4ü internetten bilgi aradığını ancak sadece 4,1inin sosyal medyaya güvendiğini belirtmiştir. 57si doğrudan uzmana başvururken, 84,3ü ikinci uzman görüşü almıştır. Sonuç: Ebeveynlerin bilgi düzeyi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı, sosyodemografik özelliklerden önemli ölçüde etkilenmektedir. Ciddi komplikasyonlara yol açabilecek yaygın hastalıklar ve tedavi zamanlaması konusunda bilgi eksiklikleri, aile hekimlerinin danışmanlık rolünün güçlendirilmesi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı düşük gruplar için basit, güvenilir ve anlaşılır bilgi kaynaklarının yaygınlaştırılmasıyla giderilebilir. Okul temelli girişimler ve dijital sağlık platformları gibi yapılandırılmış ve sistematik eğitim programları bu hedeflere ulaşmada önemli bir rol oynayabilir.

Article Details

Evaluation of Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Health Literacy in Common Pediatric Surgical Diseases

Authors:

Nurcan Çoşkun | Tuba Kayır

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Çocuk Cerrahisi

Journal:

Hitit Medical Journal Vol.7 Issue 3, pp.401-412

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360234

pISSN:

2687-4717

Pediatric surgery

Health literacy

Family physician

Knowledge level

Cross-sectional studyÇocuk cerrahisi

Sağlık okuryazarlığı

Aile hekimi

Bilgi düzeyi

Kesitsel çalışma

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Nurcan Çoşkun | Tuba Kayır

Publisher: Hitit University

Main Topics: Çocuk Cerrahisi

Journal: Hitit Medical Journal Vol.7 Issue 3, pp.401-412

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001360234

pISSN: 2687-4717

Issues

Authors:

Nurcan Çoşkun | Tuba Kayır

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Çocuk Cerrahisi

Journal:

Hitit Medical Journal Vol.7 Issue 3, pp.401-412

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360234

pISSN:

2687-4717