VPB0568 - Implementation and scale-uping of Text Messages for primary care patients using Warfarin: a real life study

Monday, July 11, 2022

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Exhibition

Presentation Format: Virtual

Presenting Author(s)

VC

VICTOR SCHULTHAIS CHAGAS

Student
Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Co-Author(s)

MR

Maira Viana Rego Souza-Silva

MD- Physician and Master’s Student
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
MP

Mara Luiza de Paiva Domingues

Master student in pharmaceutical sciences.
Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei.
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
DP

Daniella Nunes Pereira

Student
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
LS

Laura Caetano de Sá

Undergraduate Medical Student
FCMMG
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
MA

Mychelle Stefany Santos Almeida

Student
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
MR

Magda César Raposo

Master student in pharmaceutical sciences.
Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei
Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
JO

João Antônio de Queiroz Oliveira

Pharmacist
UFMG
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
TS

Thiago Barbabela de Castro Soares

PT, Specialist in Orthopedics and Sports.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
AB

André Oliveira Baldoni

Associate Professor and Internal Medicine Physician
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
MM

Milena Soriano Marcolino

MD, MSc, PhD
Associate Professor and Internal Medicine Physician. Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School; and Telehealth Center, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Maria Auxiliadora Parreiras Martins, RPh, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Background: Warfarin remains the most available oral anticoagulant, however therapy depends on adhesion. The use of text-messages is a strategy that can be used to educate patients, but there are no studies evaluating this intervention in patients taking warfarin.

Aims: Our aim was to report the implementation of a pilot text-messaging intervention to primary care patients taking warfarin in a middle-sized Brazilian city.

Methods: A bank of 79 messages was drafted and validated. During six months, three times a week, 37 patients received semi-personalized messages about anticoagulation with warfarin. At baseline and after three months, we assessed their knowledge and adherence with validated questionnaires. At the end of the follow-up, participants answered a satisfaction questionnaire. Subsequently, a scale-up stage was conducted, with an additional round of intervention including 82 patients. Seven months after the end of the second round, we interviewed the patients for their insights about the long-term effects of this program. All patients signed informed consent. The study was approved by the Research and Ethics committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Results: In the first round, 33 (89.2%) patients completed the follow-up. Adherence measured by the MAT test was high in the pre-intervention assessment and remained high after three months (96.7% vs. 93.3%). There was a trend to improve knowledge of warfarin therapy measured by the OAK test after three months (6.5% to 25.6% of correct answers, p = 0.0703). In the scale-up phase, 23 patients were interviewed in the long-term assessment. The main long-term knowledge they reported was dietary information. Nine patients reported to have received the messages, but did not remember their content.

Conclusion(s): The intervention was well-accepted by the patients, and had a positive impact on their knowledge about oral anticoagulation therapy. The scale-up assessment showed the need to constantly monitor digital interventions.