Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is reported to be the leading
cause of death in hospitalised patients worldwide. Thromboprophylaxis
provides a well-established and evidence-based approach to preventing VTE.
This approach employs individualised patient risk stratification followed by
the provision of pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological prophylaxis.
Although various VTE risk assessment models (RAMs) are available, the
Caprini RAM offers an objective, evidence-based and validated approach to
risk assessment in hospitalised medical patients. Literature findings are
indicative of a trend towards both under- and inappropriate VTE prophylaxis
prescribing in this patient population. Together with the reported lack of
medical practitioner appreciation for VTE risk assessment, the necessity to
explore these aspects of practice is evident.
Methods: This study used a retrospective, cross-sectional study design. It was
conducted at one regional- and two district-level public hospitals in the Cape
Town Metropole in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Medical
folders of all adult hospitalised medical patients who were admitted to a
general medical ward between January and July 2020 were retrospectively
reviewed using a uniquely designed data collection tool. The data collection
tool included the 2013 version of the Caprini RAM, which was employed to
document VTE risk factors and assess overall VTE risk. Thromboprophylaxis
regimens prescribed as well as contraindications to pharmacological
thromboprophylaxis were also reviewed
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/8683 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Wehmeyer, Alexander Stefan |
| Contributors | Coetzee, Renier |
| Publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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