Patients’ views and experiences on the use and safety of directly acting oral anticoagulants: a qualitative study

Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

Research

Mohamed A. Baraka¹  Nouf Aloudah²  Mohammed H. Abutaleb³  Vibhu Paudyal⁴  Zahraa Jalal⁴  Abdulrhman Al Rowily⁵  Aliah M. Alhayyan⁶ 

[1]College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

[2]Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

[3]Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia

[4]School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sir Robert Aitken Institute for Medical Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK

[5]School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sir Robert Aitken Institute for Medical Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK

[6]Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Fahad Military Medical Complex (KFMMC), Medical Department, Ministry of Defence, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

[7]Third Health Cluster, AL-Diriyah Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

关键词: Direct oral anticoagulants;    DOACs;    Medication errors;    Patients;    Patient experience;    Qualitative research;    Interviews;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40545-023-00563-y

 received in 2023-03-19, accepted in 2023-04-15,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are considered high-risk medications and used to prevent thromboembolic events and stroke. This study aimed to examine patients’ views and experiences of DOACs use and factors that can promote safety associated with DOACs.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with adult patients who had been prescribed DOACs, identified and invited by local collaborators in three different tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. A topic guide developed based on was used to inform the interview. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsData saturation was achieved by the ninth participants. Three major themes were identified: (1) factors affecting DOAC's safety from the patients view; (2) barriers to adherence to DOACs and (3) strategies to promote the safety of DOACs. Lack of knowledge of DOACs, using inappropriate sources of information, lack of communication with HCPs, difficulty in having access to DOACs and lack of monitoring were the main factors affecting the safe use of DOACs. Unavailability of the drugs and difficulty in timely getting to hospitals affected adherence. Patients acknowledged difficulties communicating with healthcare professionals, timely access to anticoagulation clinics and in obtaining their DOACs on time.ConclusionsThere is a need to develop and evaluate theory-based interventions to promote patient knowledge, understanding and shared decision-making to optimise DOACs use and improve their safety.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Crown 2023

【 图 表 】

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