Study period | November 2009 (1) | January 2010 (2) | April 2010 (3) | April 2011 (4) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total admitted | All admissions | 265 | 255 | 239 | 256 |
Case notes available | 232/265 (87.5%) | 216/255 (84.7%) | 204/239 (85.4%) | 224/256 (87.5%) | |
VTE risk assessment completed* | 16/232 (6.9%) | 40/216 (18.5%) | 40/204 (19.6%) | 221/224 (98.7%) | |
Prescription charts and case notes available | 205/265 (77.4%) | 201/255 (78.8%) | 189/239 (79.1%) | 209/256 (81.6%) | |
LMWH indicated | 147/205 (71.7%) | 115/201 (57.2%) | 115/189 (60.8%) | 135/209 (64.6%) | |
95% CI | (65.0% to 77.8%) | (50.1% to 64.3%) | (53.5% to 67.8%) | (57.7% to 71.1%) | |
LMWH prescribed appropriately* (patient has VTE risk factors and no bleeding risks) | 73/147 (49.7%) | 71/115 (61.7%) | 78/115 (67.8%) | 126/136 (92.6%) | |
95% CI | (41.3% to 58.0%) | (52.2% to 70.6%) | (58.5% to 76.2%) | 86.9% to 96.4%) | |
LMWH contra indicated | 32/205 (15.6%) | 49/201 (24.4%) | 39/189 (20.6%) | 43/209 (20.6%) | |
95% CI | (10.9% to 21.3%) | (18.6 to 30.9%) | (15.1% to 27.1%) | (15.3% to 26.7%) | |
LMWH prescribed inappropriately** | 1/32 (3%) | 9/49 (18%) | 3/39 (8%) | 14/43 (33%) | |
95% CI | (0% to 16%) | (9% to 32%) | (2% to 21%) | (19% to 49%) | |
Number of admissions observed | Observations | 16 | 21 | 14 | 20 |
VTE risk assessment completed | 0/16 (0%) | 7/21 (33%) | 4/14 (29%) | 15/20 (75%) | |
95% CI | (0% to 17%) | (15% to 60%) | (8% to 58%) | (51% to 91%) | |
LMWH prescribed appropriately | 9/16 (56%) | 12/21 (57%) | 7/14 (50%) | 12/20 (60%) | |
95% CI | (30% to 80%) | (34% to 78%) | (23% to 77%) | (36% to 81%) | |
LMWH prescribed inappropriately | 0/16 (0%) | 2/21 (10%) | 0/14 (0%) | 1/20 (5%) | |
95% CI | (0% to 17%) | (1% to 30%) | (0% to 19%) | (0% to 25%) |
Significant differences between study periods *p<0.001; **p=0.002.
LMWH, low-molecular-weight heparin; VTE, venous thromboembolism.