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CC BY 4.0 · TH Open 2020; 04(03): e218-e219
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716720
Original Article

Factors Influencing Prescribers' Decision for Extending Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in the Medical Patient Population following Hospitalization

Alex M. Ebied
1   Department of Clinical Sciences, High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, High Point, North Carolina, United States
,
Jeremiah Jessee
2   Department of Pharmacy, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
,
Yiqing Chen
3   Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, Florida, United States
,
Jason Konopack
4   Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, United States
,
Nila Radhakrishnan
5   Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, United States
,
Christina E. DeRemer
3   Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, Florida, United States
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Abstract

Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis during hospitalization has clearly defined metrics for risk stratification and practice policy employed to ensure processes of adherence. However, acceptance for practice or even the level and timeline of risk is less clear during the immediate time after hospitalization. With emerging new oral anticoagulant agents, data are available that may influence prescribing in the outpatient setting following hospitalization. A survey was created to determine the level of acceptance or influences for practice surrounding continuation of anticoagulation following hospitalization.

Methods This study was designed as a single-center survey of hospitalist and family medicine physician to assess influences to the physician's impression for risk of VTE prophylaxis and knowledge of therapy options.

Results Physicians reported depending heavily on medical center protocols for determining anticoagulation at hospital discharge. Prescribing postdischarge anticoagulation was reported to be affected by lack of comfort with prescribing oral medications and concerns with risk of bleeding for all types of anticoagulation outweighing the perceived benefit. Additionally, the decision whether to prescribe these medications at discharge was reported to be related to perceived cost and other patient barriers such as concerns over route of administration.

Conclusion Concerns for bleeding were an influence and likely resulted in shorter duration for VTE prophylaxis being prescribed posthospitalization.

Keywords

VTE prophylaxis - venous thromboembolism prophylaxis - physician influences


Publication History

Received: 20 March 2020

Accepted: 11 August 2020

Article published online:
11 September 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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