Periprocedural Antithrombotic Management from a Patient Perspective: A Qualitative Analysis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Patient Care

Background:

• Periprocedural antithrombotic medication management presents challenges for patients and providers.
• Communication issues frequently result in suboptimal medication management, leading to procedure delays or cancellations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient experiences and perceptions of periprocedural antithrombotic medication management.
• To identify patient-centered design features for optimizing communication and coordination.

Main Methods:

• Telephone surveys conducted with 81 patients on chronic antithrombotic medications undergoing endoscopy.
• Content analysis of unstructured patient responses using a multistep group coding process.

Main Results:

• While 91% understood their medication plan, 26% were unsatisfied with coordination and communication.
• Key themes: need for accurate/timely information, impact of prior experience, preference for a single information source and varied instruction methods, and expectation of clinician availability.

Conclusions:

• Patients desire timely, accurate, and adaptive information for periprocedural medication management.
• A single, consistently available point of contact is crucial for optimizing patient care and communication.