Effect of Educational Guidelines on Patients’ Compliance to the Anticoagulant Medications

Background: Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is critical for managingthromboembolic disorders, but adherence challenges significantly impact itseffectiveness and patients’ quality of life. Aim: Evaluate the effect ofeducational guidelines on patient compliance with anticoagulant medications.Design: quasi- experimental research design. Setting: The study was conductedat Cardiology Department at Main Tanta University and CardiothoracicDepartment at the International Tanta Hospital. Subject: A purposive sample of80 cardio and cardiothoracic patients. Tools: Two tools were used. Tool I:Patient’s Assessment Sheet. Tool II: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale”(MMAS-8). Result: Prior to the intervention, the majority of patients exhibitedpoor baseline knowledge and low medication compliance. Following theimplementation of the educational guidelines, the study group demonstratedsignificant improvements in both knowledge and adherence immediately postintervention, with benefits sustained over a 6-month follow-up period; whereasthe control group showed no significant changes. Furthermore, laboratoryoutcomes, particularly partial thromboplastin time (PTT), showed markedimprovement in the study group. Conclusion: Educational guidelinessignificantly improve knowledge, coagulation laboratory parameters, andmedication adherence of patients on anticoagulant therapy. To improve clinicaloutcomes, encourage compliance, and lessen complications—especially forthose with lower educational levels—routine care must incorporate establishededucational principles. Recommendations: Replication of study on largersample to examine the effect of education on bleeding complications, quality oflife, and hospital readmission.