title: [Face-to-face education to optimize knowledge in patients initiating oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insufficient knowledge of patients about oral anticoagulants that they have been prescribed is recognized as a risk factor for adverse effects. Education of patients under oral anticoagulation may improve quality and control of anticoagulant treatment; limitations of educational interventions include lack of assessment of patients' knowledge. Our goal was to determine the effect of an individualized educational intervention on knowledge of patients who recently started treatment with oral anticoagulants, to assess patients' knowledge, and to analyze factors associated with knowledge acquisition.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 49 consecutive patients attending a thrombosis clinic who initiated or re-initiated oral anticoagulant treatment, knowledge about the treatment was assessed by means of a validated questionnaire, before an individualized, face-to-face educational intervention, and at least four weeks after. Educational intervention started after the questionnaire had been answered by patients for the first time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge level increased by about 50%; the improvement was higher in patients with more years in school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timely acquisition of knowledge about oral anticoagulant drugs is optimized with interventions provided earlier during the patients' treatment. Assessment of knowledge should be performed and instruction should be adapted to patient characteristics such as level of education and availability to receive education.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Izazola-Conde
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica en Trombosis, Hemostasia y Aterogénesis, IMSS, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majluf-Cruz
authors.affiliation: División de Investigación y Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reyes-Lagunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mandoki
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina-Guarneros
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants