Thromboprophylaxis awareness among hospital Pharmacists

Introduction: Several types of research have shown the benefits of pharmacist-induced anticoagulation services to reduce venous thromboembolism (VTE) and complications of bleeding while reducing hospital and health care costs. The aim of this study was to assess pharmacist awareness and practice regarding VTE risk factors and prophylaxis. Method: This was a cross-sectional study, in which questionnaires were distributed randomly among all pharmacists in each of the involved medical institutions between the period of November 2018 and April 2019. Results: A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed in both centers, 209 were retrieved with a response rate of 83.6%. Among the respondents, 79.90% declared that VTE is a problem among hospital patients. 84.21% of respondents believed that they are aware of the current VTE prevention guidelines/tools available at their hospital, and 73.68% completed the VTE prophylaxis label on their patients’ admission notes. Cumulatively, 59.33% were educating their patients regarding VTE risk factors and preventive measures at very high or high frequencies. Similarly, 64.02% of participants were counseling their patients about their prescribed pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in very high or high frequencies. Discussion and Conclusion: Pharmacist practice regarding patients’ education and counseling, in addition to the completion of the VTE prophylaxis label on patients’ admission notes, need to be considered as a weakness that needs educational programs for the pharmacist to increase the level of VTE awareness among the hospital pharmacists.