Background: The most prevalent heart rhythm disorder in clinical practice is atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and preventable stroke, accounting for more than 30% of admitted patients in hospital.
Objective: The objective is to study the evaluation and assessment of antithrombotic drugs education in non-valvular AF Sudanese patients.
Materials and Methods: This study was carried out across different Khartoum cardiac centers, in which 150 patients taking oral anticoagulants drugs were interviewed to assess their knowledge of antithrombotic therapy and they also asked if they were receive verbal and written information about how their therapy will be monitored. Validated questionnaire had been used for an interview.
Results: Of 150 patients, 66.3% did not received any type of education about their drugs, purpose, action and side effect of therapy when they were initiated with antithrombotic therapy, and just (26.7%) were well educated about their medications. Furthermore, of 150 patients, 48.7% received antithrombotic education when they were admitted to hospital and 15.3% not decided. Findings also indicate that 64% of patients after they were discharged from hospital have a confirmed appointment schedule with the laboratory and 14% of patients indicated that pharmacists are available for consultations.
Conclusions: This study demonstrate that, non valvular atrial fibrilliation Sudanese patients on warfarin therapy, INR is not regularly monitored and poorly controlled, and majority of them did not receive any sort of education about their antithrombotic therapy.
Key words: Antithrombotic Drugs; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiovascular Morbidity; Arrhythmia
|
