Correlation between Health Literacy and Quality of Life with Health Anxiety in Outpatient Patients Referred to Shahid Beheshti Specialized Polyclinic in Karaj

Introduction: Lack of literacy and awareness of health literacy can increase anxiety and decrease the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between health literacy and quality of Life with health anxiety in outpatient patients referred to Shahid Beheshti Specialized Polyclinic in Karaj. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population consisted of 2600 outpatients of Shahid Beheshti polyclinic outpatient clinic in Karaj, using Morgan table 335 patients were selected by random sampling. Research tools included the “Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire,” the “World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version” (WHOQOL-BREF), and the “Health Anxiety Inventory” (HAI: Health). The validity of the questionnaires was determined by content and face validity. The reliability of the questionnaires was determined by Cronbach's alpha method. Data were analyzed by SPSS.25 and PLS3.5 Smart using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: There was a significant and negative correlation between health literacy and health anxiety (-0.470), and a significant and negative relationship between quality of life and health anxiety (-0.497), and a significant and positive correlation between health literacy and quality of life (0.749). Conclusions: Health literacy and quality of life were positively and significantly correlated, health literacy and health anxiety were negatively and significantly correlated, quality of life and health anxiety were negatively and significantly correlated. It is recommended that hospital managers plan to improve the health literacy of patients to improve patients' quality of life and reduce health anxiety.