Evaluation of the Relationship Between Vitamin Use and Health Literacy in Adult Individuals Applying to Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin use and health literacy among adults attending a family medicine outpatient clinic. This single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients presenting to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine. The sample size was calculated for two independent groups. Assuming an effect size of Cohen’s d = 0.3, a Type I error of 0.05, and a statistical power of 90%, the required sample size was determined. The mean age of the participants was 39.45±12.3 years; 56.2% were female and 60.4% had a university degree. No statistically significant differences were observed between vitamin users and non-users in terms of age (p=0.227), gender (p=0.105), marital status (p=0.090), or education level (p=0.055). Among vitamin users, the most commonly used supplements were vitamin D (75%), vitamin B12 (58.6%), and multivitamins (28.6%). The most frequently reported reason for vitamin use was strengthening the immune system (54.2%). No significant difference was found in health literacy scores between vitamin users and non-users. Vitamin use should be guided by healthcare professionals. Improving health literacy through individual and community-based interventions is essential, and family physicians play an important role in promoting evidence-based health behaviors.