Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin

BACKGROUND: Despite new anticoagulants' developments, warfarin is still one of the most commonly used medicines, particularly in the cardiovascular system. One of the significant challenges with warfarin is the prevalence of dangerous side effects such as bleeding and drug and food interactions...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maryam Ehsani, Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani, Shima Haghani, Shiva Khaleghparast, Mahboubeh Malekmohammadi Memar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=270;epage=270;aulast=Ehsani
_version_ 1797998878221402112
author Maryam Ehsani
Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani
Shima Haghani
Shiva Khaleghparast
Mahboubeh Malekmohammadi Memar
author_facet Maryam Ehsani
Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani
Shima Haghani
Shiva Khaleghparast
Mahboubeh Malekmohammadi Memar
author_sort Maryam Ehsani
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Despite new anticoagulants' developments, warfarin is still one of the most commonly used medicines, particularly in the cardiovascular system. One of the significant challenges with warfarin is the prevalence of dangerous side effects such as bleeding and drug and food interactions, which can negatively affect patients if not adequately controlled. As health-care team members, nurses have a crucial role in prescribing this medicine and educating patients. In this regard, this study was conducted to determine the knowledge and practice of nurses working in the cardiovascular wards regarding warfarin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, knowledge and practice of 239 nurses working in the cardiovascular wards of teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences have been investigated using European Cardiovascular Nurses Knowledge questionnaire on anticoagulants and the checklist for high-risk drugs safety instructions. The sampling was performed through the stratified sampling method with proportional allocation. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 16 through descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficient) (Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean scores of knowledge (18.51 ± 3.87) and practice (10.53 ± 2.12) were slightly higher than the median, and the lowest mean score was related to knowledge on drug interactions (7.62). The practice had a statistically significant relationship with knowledge (P < 0.001). Regarding demographic variables, there was a statistically significant relationship between nurses' knowledge and the education level (P = 0.009) and nurses' practice and age (P = 0.022), work experience (P = 0.032), and work experience in cardiovascular wards (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, the knowledge of nurses working in the cardiovascular wards about warfarin was not sufficient, and their practice was of poor quality. Nurses' lack of knowledge and improper practice can jeopardize drug safety in patients and cause serious side effects such as bleeding. Proper training of nursing students and nurses about warfarin as a high-risk drug, its side effects, and drug-food interactions, and the emphasis on patient education in patients receiving this medicine can effectively reduce the incidence of side effects.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T10:55:44Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cbb974f9105448baaed9cc8d64df5273
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2277-9531
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T10:55:44Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Education and Health Promotion
spelling doaj.art-cbb974f9105448baaed9cc8d64df52732022-12-22T04:28:46ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312022-01-0111127027010.4103/jehp.jehp_1240_21Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarinMaryam EhsaniMansoureh Ashghali FarahaniShima HaghaniShiva KhaleghparastMahboubeh Malekmohammadi MemarBACKGROUND: Despite new anticoagulants' developments, warfarin is still one of the most commonly used medicines, particularly in the cardiovascular system. One of the significant challenges with warfarin is the prevalence of dangerous side effects such as bleeding and drug and food interactions, which can negatively affect patients if not adequately controlled. As health-care team members, nurses have a crucial role in prescribing this medicine and educating patients. In this regard, this study was conducted to determine the knowledge and practice of nurses working in the cardiovascular wards regarding warfarin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, knowledge and practice of 239 nurses working in the cardiovascular wards of teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences have been investigated using European Cardiovascular Nurses Knowledge questionnaire on anticoagulants and the checklist for high-risk drugs safety instructions. The sampling was performed through the stratified sampling method with proportional allocation. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 16 through descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficient) (Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean scores of knowledge (18.51 ± 3.87) and practice (10.53 ± 2.12) were slightly higher than the median, and the lowest mean score was related to knowledge on drug interactions (7.62). The practice had a statistically significant relationship with knowledge (P < 0.001). Regarding demographic variables, there was a statistically significant relationship between nurses' knowledge and the education level (P = 0.009) and nurses' practice and age (P = 0.022), work experience (P = 0.032), and work experience in cardiovascular wards (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, the knowledge of nurses working in the cardiovascular wards about warfarin was not sufficient, and their practice was of poor quality. Nurses' lack of knowledge and improper practice can jeopardize drug safety in patients and cause serious side effects such as bleeding. Proper training of nursing students and nurses about warfarin as a high-risk drug, its side effects, and drug-food interactions, and the emphasis on patient education in patients receiving this medicine can effectively reduce the incidence of side effects.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=270;epage=270;aulast=Ehsanianticoagulantsknowledgenursepractice patternswarfarin
spellingShingle Maryam Ehsani
Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani
Shima Haghani
Shiva Khaleghparast
Mahboubeh Malekmohammadi Memar
Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
anticoagulants
knowledge
nurse
practice patterns
warfarin
title Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
title_full Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
title_fullStr Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
title_short Assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
title_sort assessment of knowledge and practice of cardiovascular nurses regarding warfarin
topic anticoagulants
knowledge
nurse
practice patterns
warfarin
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2022;volume=11;issue=1;spage=270;epage=270;aulast=Ehsani
work_keys_str_mv AT maryamehsani assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofcardiovascularnursesregardingwarfarin
AT mansourehashghalifarahani assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofcardiovascularnursesregardingwarfarin
AT shimahaghani assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofcardiovascularnursesregardingwarfarin
AT shivakhaleghparast assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofcardiovascularnursesregardingwarfarin
AT mahboubehmalekmohammadimemar assessmentofknowledgeandpracticeofcardiovascularnursesregardingwarfarin