Shehanah Oamir
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Compliance with and awareness about oral anticoagulant therapy among Saudi patients in a University hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Biography
Biography: Shehanah Oamir
Abstract
Background & Aim: Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is one of the most widely used therapies. Being on oral anticoagulation regimens requires high degree of compliance and adequate knowledge to avoid serious complications. Our aim is to assess compliance with and awareness about OAT among Saudi patients and their willingness to use the point-of-care (POC) INR testing devices for self- monitoring.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was carried out for all patients and analyzed according to demographics, adherence; knowledge and INR control. A total of 162 patients were interviewed, females (69.1%) exceeded males (30.1%). The mean age was 52.09±15.34. Most of them were on warfarin, (80.2%) received education by their physicians. Generally, patients had poor knowledge and medium adherence (53.1%) (Scored<50%).
Results: (24%) of the Poor Knowledge Group (PKG) were highly adherent compared to (14.5%) of the Fine Knowledge Group (FKG). However, (53.2%) of FKG had a controlled INR where this percentage falls into (27%) in the PKG, with a significant difference between the two regarding their INR range (p=0.001). The most incorrect answered question in both groups was related to warfarindrug-interactions (75.3%). Majority (74.7%) was eager to make use of the POC-INR devices.
Conclusion: The participants knowledge was generally poor but level of knowledge didn’t play a role in INR control. Regardless, an education program should be accommodated to help patients in improving their medication control and reducing clinical visits. The majority was willing to adopt (POC) INR devices that will certainly help them in managing their treatment and potentially reducing adverse clinical outcomes.