Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
Shehanah Fahad Al Omair
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Cardiolog
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 didnâ�?�?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.
Shehanah Fahad Al Omair is currently a final year medical student at King Saud University- College of medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She is interested in otolaryngology as a specialty but the field of research has always been intriguing to her. She has four researches; two of them are in the process of being published.
Email: shehanah.f@hotmail.com