Periprocedural Antithrombotic Management from a Patient Perspective: A Qualitative Analysis

Background: Periprocedural antithrombotic medication management is a complex, often confusing process for patients and their providers. Communication difficulties often lead to suboptimal medication management, resulting in delayed or canceled procedures.

Methods: We conducted telephone surveys with patients taking chronic antithrombotic medications who had recently undergone an endoscopy procedure. In the survey, we sought to better understand the periprocedural process for patients taking antithrombotic medications. We conducted a content analysis of patients' unstructured responses from the periprocedural patient phone calls. We used a multistep group coding process to analyze responses. Relationships between different themes and categories were analyzed using original quotes and retrieving thematic segments from the transcripts.

Results: The survey was administered to 81 patients; 74/81 respondents (91%) said they understood the plan to manage their antithrombotics, but 21/81 respondents (26%) were not completely satisfied with the coordination, communication, and management of their medications. Five primary themes emerged from the content analysis as patient-centered design features affecting periprocedural care: (1) patients require accurate and timely information; (2) a patient's prior experience with antithrombotic therapy affects their understanding of the process; (3) patients prefer receiving their information from a single source, and (4) also prefer different methods of instruction; (5) finally, patients expect their clinician(s) to be available through the periprocedural management process.

Conclusion: To optimize the periprocedural medication management communication process, patients desire timeliness, accuracy, and adaptiveness to prior patient experience while offering a single, consistently available point of contact.