Shereen Elazzazy
Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
Title: Clinical outcomes of implementing evidence-based practice on venous thromboembolism prevention for cancer patients in Qatar: A retrospective study
Biography
Biography: Shereen Elazzazy
Abstract
Background: Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE) is a serious condition; approximately 20% of VTE cases occur in cancer patients and it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Hospitalized patients with cancer require VTE prevention. Breast cancer is considered a high risk for VTE due to different factors (malignancy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, hospitalization and female gender). Objectives: This study focuses on the assessment of clinical outcome in preventing VTE in cancer population in Qatar after implementation of evidence based VTE prevention guidelines. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of DVT by evaluating Doppler ultrasound, database for 364 cases of in/out-patients over 24 month (Jan 2011-Dec 2012) findings were analyzed by a hematologist to identify patients who developed DVT due to current or previous admission. Relationship between the incidence of VTE overtime and the compliance to VTE prevention protocol were established. Results: The study showed that the increase in the overall compliance to VTE prophylaxis protocol introduced to inpatients population (n=2595) increased from 61.5% to 84.6% (P=0.0297); led to decreased DVT incidence by 66.4% (P=0.0145). 50% of cancer cases developed DVT were breast cancer patients (n=24), 92% of them were outpatients.