Volume 27, Issue 136, June 2023

Knowledge, attitudes and practice toward venous thromboembolism prophylaxis among students of Health Colleges, Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia

Turki H Alkully^1♦, Yasser Kofiah², Zahraa Yousef H Almakinah³, Basil S Alghamdi³, Bandar A Alomari³, Ahlam S Alabbad³, Alla A Alhumaidan³, Israa A Alshakhs³

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, 65779, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
²Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, 65779, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
³Medical Intern, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, 65779, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rising gradually in emerging nations and is a global public health concern. This research aims to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards venous thromboembolism prophylaxis among students at health colleges, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in the period between August and September 2022 and involved 298 students enrolled at health colleges at Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi. Each participant received a pre-designed self-administered questionnaire. Results: Four cases were questioned whether they needed VTE prophylaxis and what kind. Cases 1 and 3 need unfractionated heparin, 2 requires LMWH, while 4 requires no prophylaxis. Cases 1 (82, 27.5%), 2 (107, 35.9%), 3 (107, 35.9%) and 4 (131, 44%) did not require VTE prophylaxis. Most participants chose low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for all cases: Case 1 (78, 26.2%), case 2 (74, 24.8%), case 3 (57, 19.1%) and case 4 (42, 14.1%). Faculty of Medicine students had the best VTE prophylactic knowledge and behaviors (P< 0.001). Interns from all health schools practiced better than other years (P= 0.034). Conclusion: Health college students showed an acceptable attitude toward VTE prevention, although knowledge was limited and the number of positive procedure responses was low. These results advise colleges to boost VTE prevention training programs, with a higher focus on early-career doctors with less formal training.

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e273ms2891

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i136/e273ms2891

Published: 26 June 2023