Awareness and Perception of Hospitalized Patients on Thromboembolism and Thromboprophylaxis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Sana'a-Yemen

Purpose: Patients' awareness toward VTE and thromboprophylaxis is critical for medication adherence. This study aimed to evaluate the patient's awareness and perception towards VTE and its prophylaxis and to assess patient's satisfaction towards the information given by the medical staff.

Participants And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospitalized patients who received VTE prophylaxis in public and private hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. Besides sociodemographic variables, participants' awareness and perception of VTE and its prophylaxis were evaluated. Variables' association with VTE awareness were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression using SPSS.

Results: A total of 396 of the hospitalized patients agreed to participate in the study, with 31% (n = 121) have ever heard about VTE. The multivariable logistic regression findings revealed that the participants who did not have a profession had OR = 17.182 ( < 0.001) of being unaware of VTE compared with those who had one. Participants who did not have a personal history of VTE had OR = 7.580 ( < 0.001) of being unaware of DVT/PE compared with the participants who had a personal history of VTE. Male participants had OR = 2.839 ( < 0.005) of being unaware of DVT/PE compared with female participants. Participants who were illiterate had OR = 2.832 ( < 0.022) of being unaware of DVT/PE compared with participants with a higher level of education.

Conclusion: The study revealed lack of awareness and perception of VTE and its prophylaxis among hospitalized patients in Yemen. The patients who are unaware of the disease have wrong perception about their role in DVT prophylaxis. Patient's education must be considered in healthcare setting to improve patient's health outcomes.