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Adult nursing
Increased knowledge of oral anticoagulants and treatment satisfaction leads to better adherence to oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation
  1. Manuel Schwanda1,
  2. Rita Gruber1,2
  1. 1 Department of Health Sciences, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria
  2. 2 School of Nursing, Bildungszentrum Diakonissen Linz, 4020 Linz, Austria
  1. Correspondence to Manuel Schwanda, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria; Manuel.Schwanda{at}fhstp.ac.at

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Commentary on: Smet L, Heggermont WA, Goossens E, et al. Adherence, knowledge, and perception about oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for thromboembolic events after radiofrequency ablation. J Adv Nurs 2018;74:2577–87.

Implications for practice and research

  • Increased knowledge about oral anticoagulants (OACs) and treatment satisfaction may increase the adherence to OAC in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

  • There is a need for long-term effects of educational interventions regarding adherence and the intake of OAC in patients with AF.

Context

AF occurs frequently and leads to a higher incidence of thromboembolic events and stroke. Therefore, OACs are crucial and recommended. This therapy can be carried out with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or non-VKA OAC (NOACs). Both have demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of thromboembolic events. Additionally, an effective rhythm control strategy, the catheter …

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.