[Evaluation about patient's knowledge on their direct oral anticoagulants treatment]

Patient's knowledge about their treatment is poor, generally speaking. New oral anticoagulants are easier to use compared to antivitamin K, and they are going to increase. This simplification can underestimate their high potential risk. We have assessed patient's knowledge about their direct oral anticoagulants.

It was a quantitative, observational, multicentric, prospective study, on 50 patients on Direct Oral Anticoagulants. They have been included from November 2015 to February 2017, in Île-de-France. They were needed to be aged more than 18years old, whatever was: the reason of this treatment, the beginning of it, the molecule, the existence or not of antivitamin K before. Their knowledge was assessed by a survey, realised by a unique investigator. The primary outcome was to reach more than 80% good answers to the survey. Secondary outcomes were to identify factors than can influence knowledge.

Among fifty patients, nine (18%) reached a goal over or equal to 80%. They knew the name of their medicament in 58% of cases, and the indication in 72% of cases. They could identify hemorragic signs in more than 70% of cases. In case of hemorragic sign, 94% of them were going to see a doctor. Thrombosis signs were less knew. None of the factors, excepted their profession, was different in the two populations (P=0,01).

This study showed the few rate of patient knowing their oral anticoagulants treatment perfectly, and their need to improve it. It could make professional healthcare aware to this problematic.