Background Vitamin K Antagonists are the most used anticoagulants in the treatment of thrombotic diseases and their misuse is an important source of medicines-related illness.

Purpose To study the effect of targeted information on patients’ knowledge of their VKA treatment.

Materials and Methods The study took place between 05/07/2012 and 09/07/2012 as described below: An assessment grid including 18 questions grouped in 4 items was made by pharmacists and checked by the ‘haemostasis-coagulation’ group. It included a) general knowledge, b) meaning of the INR test, c) drug and food interactions and d) signs of bleeding. The students were trained (by pharmacists) and empowered (by specialist members of the ‘haemostasis-coagulation’ group) The pharmacy students evaluated patient knowledge with the grid (T0) The answers were analysed in order to highlight points where knowledge was lacking Targeted therapeutic information was supplied on the deficient points Patients were re-evaluated with the same grid before discharge (T1).

Results 73 patients (27 males/46 females) were evaluated and received therapeutic information. The mean age was 66 years. 57% of responses were adequate with 69%, 55%, 37% and 47% of correct answers for items a, b, c and d respectively. 41 (56%) of the 73 patients were re-evaluated before discharge. In this group of patients, 50% answers were correct initially and 78% after education. An improvement of the knowledge was observed for all items with 73% vs. 32%, 66% vs. 30%, 83% vs. 18% and 72% vs. 27% of correct answers at T1 vs. T0 for items a, b, c and d, respectively.

Conclusions The improvement in patients’ knowledge of their VKA treatment shows the benefit of this approach based on the patients being educated by empowered pharmacy students. That’s why this process should be extended to other units with VKA patients.

Reference

1. VKA, therapeutic information, patients’ knowledge.

No conflict of interest.