[Face-to-face education to optimize knowledge in patients initiating oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT)]

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.

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.

Knowledge level increased by about 50%; the improvement was higher in patients with more years in school.

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.