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Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in acute medical admissions to a university teaching hospital.
Ir Med J. 2013 Sep;106(8):235-8
Authors: Lyons O, Loh J, Lim M, O'Riordan D, Silke B
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess appropriate thromboprophylaxis prescription rates in a university hospital and to re-audit after a series of interventions. The notes of all acute medical patient admissions over a 4-week period were assessed for VTE risk factors and prescription of thromboprophylaxis. Subsequently, a series of hospital wide interventions including educational initiatives and a new drug prescription chart were introduced. 2 years post intervention the audit was repeated. Pre-intervention, 104 of 265 (39%) "at risk" patients were prescribed appropriate thromboprophylaxis. Post intervention the prescription rate increased to 108 of 188 (57%) "at risk patients". The results of the pre- intervention audit are consistent with the published literature. While there was a significant increase in prescription rates post intervention, over 40% of "at risk" patients still did not receive thromboprophylaxis highlighting the challenge in attempting to close the gap between guidelines and actual practice.
PMID: 24282892 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]