title: Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in acute medical admissions to a university teaching hospital.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess appropriate thromboprophylaxis prescription rates in a university hospital and to re-audit after a series of interventions. The notes of all acute medical patient admissions over a 4-week period were assessed for VTE risk factors and prescription of thromboprophylaxis. Subsequently, a series of hospital wide interventions including educational initiatives and a new drug prescription chart were introduced. 2 years post intervention the audit was repeated. Pre-intervention, 104 of 265 (39%) "at risk" patients were prescribed appropriate thromboprophylaxis. Post intervention the prescription rate increased to 108 of 188 (57%) "at risk patients". The results of the pre- intervention audit are consistent with the published literature. While there was a significant increase in prescription rates post intervention, over 40% of "at risk" patients still did not receive thromboprophylaxis highlighting the challenge in attempting to close the gap between guidelines and actual practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, St James' Hospital, James' St, Dublin 8. owendlyons@gmail.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silke
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants