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Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Nursing

Keywords

anticoagulation, warfarin, patient education

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore cardiac rehab patients’ knowledge of the side effects and dietary restrictions of their warfarin therapy at a Western New York cardiac rehab facility. Previous research shows that complications are linked to patient knowledge deficits about their medication. The conceptual framework for the study is the Theory of Adaptation by Sister Callista Roy. The theory describes humans as complex adaptive system. The study is of a quantitative and descriptive design. Thirty-four participants were recruited from a cardiac rehab facility through convenience sampling to complete a 20-item Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) test. Participants completed informed consent prior to participating in the study. The results of the questionnaire were coded and inserted into a computerized code form. Descriptive statistics were performed on the data and results were expressed as percentages in order to identify the three greatest areas of knowledge deficit. The study found the overall level of knowledge of participants to be high. The three most frequently incorrect questions pertained to when to call your doctor, when to seek medical attention, and what to do if you miss a dose of warfarin. The content of the three most frequently incorrect questions belonged to the categories of adverse effects and monitoring. Based on the knowledge deficits, an educational brochure was created as a tool to enhance the knowledge of patients of the cardiac rehab facility.

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