Knowledge of Patients with Mechanical Valve Prostheses Concerning Chronic Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Authors

  • Helena Teixeira Rocha Hospital São Francisco; Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre
  • Eneida Rejane Rabelo Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia; Instituto de Cardiologia
  • Graziella Aliti Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia; Instituto de Cardiologia
  • Emiliane Nogueira de Souza Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692010000400006

Keywords:

Anticoagulants, Nursing, Knowledge, Heart Valve Prosthesis

Abstract

Adherence to chronic Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (OAT) is directly related to patients' understanding of the therapy. This study verified the knowledge of patients with mechanical valve prostheses concerning OAT. This is a contemporary cross-sectional study, the sample is composed of patients with mechanical valve prostheses (MVP) in outpatient follow-up. A 10-question instrument was used; answers were know' (1 point), know partially' (half point), or do not know' (zero). Patients were grouped according to the result obtained: ≤ 4 points was considered insufficient knowledge; >; 4 ≤ 8 equated to moderate knowledge; and >; 8 was considered appropriate knowledge. Of the 110 patients, 61.8% presented moderate knowledge, 40.9% were not able to name at least one factor that may alter the INR (International Normalized Ratio) and 37.3% were not able to report their INR target range. The majority of patients presented moderate knowledge concerning the treatment. Strategies to improve knowledge on the topic should be implemented to minimize risks.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2010-08-01

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 4 (2010)

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Knowledge of Patients with Mechanical Valve Prostheses Concerning Chronic Oral Anticoagulant Therapy . (2010). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 18(4), 696-702. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692010000400006