Factors Influencing Various Aspects of Patients' Knowledge of Oral Anticoagulation.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and examine individual characteristics and socioeconomic factors that contribute to the knowledge of patients who receive warfarin anticoagulation.

METHODS

All patients treated using warfarin for anticoagulation were enrolled during a 6-month period at a university-affiliated cardiac clinic. All relevant demographic and clinical information were collected and the Anticoagulation Knowledge Assessment (AKA) questionnaire consisting of 29 questions was administered. After completion, the questionnaires were scored and the percent correct answers were analyzed for overall scores, as well as the following categories: drug/food interactions, pharmacological knowledge, recognition of complications, and patient compliance. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the contributing factors to the knowledge level of the patients in each category.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty patients (79 men and 71 women) with a median age of 61.5 years completed the AKA questionnaire. The average overall score was 29.3%. Living alone (P = 0.008), higher levels of education (P = 0.001), and durations of ≥3 years of warfarin therapy (P = 0.018) positively impacted overall AKA scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic factors and level of general education remain the most important elements determining the patient awareness of therapeutic goals, possible drug/food interaction, recognition of adverse effects, and compliance of warfarin treatment.