Kehinde O. Obamiro

Development and Validation of an Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool (AKT)

Background Assessing and improving patients’ anticoagulation knowledge can lead to better treatment outcomes. While validated knowledge instruments exist for use in people taking warfarin, these tools are not necessarily applicable to patients taking direct-acting oral anticoagulants. Objective To develop and validate an oral anticoagulation knowledge instrument that is applicable to all oral anticoagulant medications. Methods Ten anticoagulation experts participated in the development of the Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool to ensure content validity. The knowledge instrument was administered to three groups of participants comprising of 44 pharmacists, 50 patients and 50 members of the general public. A subgroup of participants in the patient and pharmacist group were retested approximately 2–3 months after the initial testing. Statistical tests were conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the scale, and item analysis was used to determine the performance of individual questions. Results The 28-item instrument developed had a scale content validity index of 0.92, supporting content validity. The pharmacist group’s mean score was significantly higher than that of the patient group, and the patient group scored significantly higher than the general public group (94% vs 62% vs 20%, respectively; p<0.001), supporting construct validity. Internal consistency reliability was acceptable with a Cronbach’s α value of > 0.7 across the three groups, and the test–retest reliability was confirmed with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.72 and 0.78 for the pharmacist and patient groups, respectively. Conclusion The Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in routine clinical practice to assess patients’ anticoagulation knowledge.

Adherence to Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation: An Australian Survey

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of patients who have suboptimal adherence to oral anticoagulant (OAC), identify the predictors of adherence, and determine whether patient-related factors vary across adherence levels in Australia. Methods: Respondents were recruited for an online survey using Facebook. Survey instruments included the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, the Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool, the Perception of Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaires, and a modified Cancer Information Overload scale. Predictors of medication adherence were identified using ordinal regression analysis. Results: Of the 386 responses eligible for analysis, only 54.9% reported a high level of adherence. Participants aged 65 years or younger were less likely to have high adherence compared to older participants (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.88; P = .013), while females were more likely to be highly adherent compared to males (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.08-2.64; P = .023). The analyses showed that age, gender, treatment satisfaction, information overload, concerns about making mistake when taking OACs, and cost of medication were significant predictors of adherence. Conclusion: Self-reported suboptimal adherence to OAC is common among patients with atrial fibrillation. A focus on supporting people who are at higher risk of suboptimal adherence is needed to maximize the benefit of OAC therapy in this population.

Anticoagulation knowledge in patients with atrial fibrillation: An Australian survey

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly diagnosed arrhythmia in clinical practice, and is associated with a significant medical and economic burden. Anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism by approximately two‐thirds compared with no therapy. Knowledge regarding anticoagulant therapy can influence treatment outcomes in patients with AF.

Information overload in patients with atrial fibrillation: Can the cancer information overload (CIO) scale be used?

OBJECTIVE Information overload can negatively impact positive health behaviors such as cancer screening. The 8-item Cancer Information Overload (CIO) scale appears to be the only validated measure of health-related information overload. The present study assesses the validity of the CIO scale when modified for use in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) residing in Australia. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a study of adult Australian patients with AF (N = 386) in which a modified version of the CIO scale was used. In the present study, we examined the construct (convergent and divergent) validity and performed an exploratory factor analysis for the modified scale. RESULTS All items on the modified-CIO scale appear to load onto a single factor. As predicted, higher education levels (rs=-.24, p < .001) and higher oral anticoagulant knowledge (rs=-.17, p = .001) were significantly associated with lower modified-CIO scores; no other demographic characteristics were significantly associated with CIO scores. CONCLUSION When adapted to the AF context, the modified-CIO scale appears to be a valid measure of information overload. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS A valid scale is required to measure information overload accurately. Knowledge of the interplay between information overload and various health behaviors help focus future efforts to support patient empowerment.

Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool (AKT): Further evidence of validity in the Italian population

Introduction Oral Anticoagulation therapy (OAC) is highly effective in the management of thromboembolic disorders. An adequate level of knowledge is important for self-management and optimizing clinical outcomes. The Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool (AKT) was developed to assess OAC knowledge and caters for both patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants or vitamin K antagonist (VKA). However, evidence regarding its psychometric proprieties, validity and reliability are unavailable in non-English speaking settings. For this reason, the aim of this study is to provide further evidence of validity for AKT and also developing an Italian AKT version (I-AKT) supported by evidence of validity and reliability. Methods A multiphase study was conducted which included the following: cultural and linguistic validity; i.e. content validity; construct validity; reliability assessment. The Construct validity was performed using the contrasted group approach using three groups comprised of health care providers, patients and the general public. Furthermore, Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) was performed to confirm the mono-dimensional structure of the items in the AKT. Results In construct validity phase 334 participants were enrolled. One-way ANOVA and post hoc analysis test demonstrated significant differences between the means knowledge scores of the three groups: 30.42±3.04 vs 23.45± 4.57 vs14.32±6.07 (Statistic F = 266.83; p < .001). ESEM analysis demonstrates the I-AKT mono-dimensionally structure with an explained variance of 56.42%. The scale also showed both good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.896) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.855). Conclusion This study developed and validated I-AKT with supporting evidence for validity and reliability. The study also confirms the mono-dimensional of the items in the AKT. This suggest that the instrument can be useful in non-English setting for knowledge assessment and in potentially developing patient education materials.