Effectiveness of an educational intervention on knowledge about anticoagulant therapy: a quasi-experimental study

OBJECTIVES: to assess the effectiveness of a nursing education intervention on patients' knowledge about anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: a quasi-experimental study was conducted with 25 patients using warfarin. The intervention, based on the Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory and applied using the Supported Self-Care methodology, consisted of remote follow-up with identification of difficulties in self-care, counseling, development of a care plan, assistance, and monitoring of results. Therapeutic knowledge was assessed before and after the follow-up. The results were compared using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: the comparison of knowledge scores before and after the intervention showed an increase from 5.24 to 7.74 (p<0.001). After follow-up, no participant demonstrated insufficient knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: the educational intervention proved effective in increasing knowledge about the treatment. This finding demonstrates the potential of qualified nursing care through telehealth.