Effects of extended care on compliance of anticoagulant therapy in patients with lower limb deep venous thrombosis

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of extended care on compliance of anticoagulant therapy in patients with lower limb deep venous thrombosis. Methods A total of 91 patients with lower limb deep veous thrombosis discharged from a tertiary hospital of Hebei Province from March to May 2015 were selected and divided into two groups according to odd and even numbers of discharging date. The control group (n=48) was conducted by conventional mode of care. Patients in the intervention group (n=43) were not only received conventional care, but also received extended care intervention, which included founding an extended care team, established anticoagulation files, providing brochure and follow up by phone. Level of anticoagulant knowledge, compliance of anticoagulation therapy and target rate of anticoagulation were evaluated and compared between two groups after three months' intervention. Results After three months' intervention, the score median of anticoagulation knowledge in the patients of observation group was 10, while that of the control group was 6 (Z=-8.397, P<0.01) . Patients with good compliance of anticoagulation therapy in the observation group accounted for 77.1%, while patients with good compliance in the control group accounted for 39.5% (χ2=13.254, P<0.05) . The target rate of anticoagulation after discharge in the observation group was 85.4%, while that of the control group was 67.4% (χ2=4.131, P<0.05) . Conclusions Extended care for patients with deep venous thrombosis can improve the level of anticoagulation knowledge, the compliance of anticoagulation therapy and the target rate of anticoagulation, so as to provide individualized anticoagulation management for patients and improve their prognosis. Key words: Deep vein thrombosis; Drug therapy compliance; Extended care; Anticoagulant therapy