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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 May 25:15:104.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-104.

Safety relevant knowledge of orally anticoagulated patients without self-monitoring: a baseline survey in primary care

Jean-François Chenot  1 , Thanh Duc Hua, Manar Abu Abed, Hannelore Schneider-Rudt, Tim Friede, Simon Schneider, Stefan Viktor Vormfelde
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Safety relevant knowledge of orally anticoagulated patients without self-monitoring: a baseline survey in primary care

Jean-François Chenot et al. BMC Fam Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Effective and safe management of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) requires a high level of patient knowledge and adherence. The aim of this study was to assess patient knowledge about OAT and factors associated with patient knowledge.

Methods: This is a baseline survey of a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 22 general practices with an educational intervention for patients or their caregivers. We assessed knowledge about general information on OAT and key facts regarding nutrition, drug-interactions and other safety precautions of 345 patients at baseline.

Results: Participants rated their knowledge about OAT as excellent to good (56%), moderate (36%) or poor (8%). However, there was a discrepancy between self-rated knowledge and evaluated actual knowledge and we observed serious knowledge gaps. Half of the participants (49%) were unaware of dietary recommendations. The majority (80%) did not know which non-prescription analgesic is the safest and 73% indicated they would not inform pharmacists about OAT. Many participants (35-75%) would not recognize important emergency situations. After adjustment in a multivariate analysis, older age and less than 10 years education remained significantly associated with lower overall score, but not with self-rated knowledge.

Conclusions: Patients have relevant knowledge gaps, potentially affecting safe and effective OAT. There is a need to assess patient knowledge and for structured education programs.

Trial registration: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (German Clinical Trials Register): DRKS00000586.Universal Trial Number (UTN U1111-1118-3464).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Recruitment flow.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association of the 13-item knowledge score with age, gender, years of education (dichotomized to smaller, and larger or equal 10 years), fear of bleeding, history of prior OAT related complications and self-rated knowledge.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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