Background In less than 10 years, 2 antiaggregants and 4 direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) were released in Europe, making antithrombotic therapy management more complicated. We considered nurses’ needs as mandatory as they play an everyday role in patient management and education.

Purpose We planned to evaluate knowledge about antithrombotic therapy among nurses in our hospital in order to provide specific additional training.

Material and methods A form with a set of 71 questions on 16 themes, all related to antithrombotic drugs and their management, was prepared and distributed to nurses in the heart institute (group A) or other services of the hospital (group B). Answers were analysed by a junior pharmacist using an Excel chart.

Results From June to August 2014, 49 nurses in cardiology (group A) and from November 2014 to August 2015, 170 nurses from 38 others services (35% from intensive care units and 65% from adult conventional units (group B)) completed the questionnaire.

In both groups, a large majority of nurses were aware that they should deliver information to patients (A, 93.9%; B, 93.5%) and that INR allows monitoring of antivitamin K (AVK) (A, 100%; B, 90.6%).

Nevertheless, the results showed a lack of knowledge. For example in group A, 18.4%, and in group B, 19.4%, did not think there was any difference between heparin calcium and low molecular weight heparin; 44.9% (group A) and 51.2% (group B) did not identify acenocoumarol as an AVK. 87.7% (group A) and 85.8% (group B) ignored the fact that monitoring platelets is mandatory when using unfractionated heparin (UFH). Only 44.9% (group A) and 31.2% (group B) mentioned anti-Xa in UFH monitoring.

DOAC were better identified (69.4%), and their related bleeding risk better known (73.5%) among nurses in group A than among nurses in group B (38.8% and 55.3%, respectively).

Conclusion These results indicate a need for providing practical basic training on antithrombotics in our hospital. Furthermore, professional development should be encouraged to maintain and update knowledge which is essential in order to ensure safe and appropriate care. We have already scheduled a 1 day seminar in February 2016 in which training will be provided interactively with clinical cases and exchanges between caregivers and trainers.

References and/or Acknowledgements

1. Rapport ANSM Avril 2014

References and/or AcknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.