Assessment of health literacy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with health behaviours: a cross-sectional study

Objective Healthy behaviours are important for people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, adopting and maintaining lifestyle changes involves a complex set of behavioural changes, which most patients fail to adhere to. The current research on health literacy, which includes individual and social skills needed in health self-management, in patients with PCOS is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore health literacy, health behaviours and the relationship between the two to expand research on PCOS management. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A gynaecological outpatient clinic. Participants A total of 286 patients with PCOS (>= 18 years, diagnosed via Rotterdam criteria, able to self-report and give informed consent) were recruited from March to June 2022. Outcome measures Health literacy and health behaviours in patients with PCOS were assessed using the Health Literacy Management Scale and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Chinese version). Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the factors influencing health literacy, and linear regression to assess the relationship between health literacy and health behaviours, with an F-significance test; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Overall, most patients with PCOS had insufficient health literacy (55.9%). The influencing factors of health literacy in patients with PCOS were age (beta=0.154, p<0.05), Body Mass Index (beta=-0.140, p<0.05), income (beta=1.228, p<0.05), duration of illness (beta=0.110, p<0.05) and educational level (beta=1.552, p<0.05). Moreover, 40.6% of patients with poor health behaviours, and 31.8% with moderate health behaviours, needed to improve their health behaviours. Health literacy was positively correlated with health behaviours in patients with PCOS (r=0.473, p<0.05). Conclusion The positive correlation between health literacy and health behaviour in patients with PCOS indicates that promoting health literacy in future treatment and management of PCOS may be beneficial.