Evaluating and Improving Knowledge of DVT Prophylaxis Among Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan: A Quality Improvement Study

IntroductionDeep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) poses a significantly preventable threat within healthcare, with compliance to prophylaxis lacking among medical practitioners. This study explores the role of Quality Improvement (QI) in improving DVT prophylaxis practices at a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices on DVT prophylaxis was administered among medical officers (MOs) at a multi-specialty setup. A pre-session questionnaire was conducted, followed by three educational sessions from September 21, 2021, to June 7, 2022, and then a post-session questionnaire. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-squared test. A <i>P</i>-value < .10 was considered significant.Results42 MOs participated in the pre-session questionnaire and educational sessions, of which 34 (81.0%) completed the post-session questionnaire. The majority were female (85.5%) and rotated in Medicine (75.0%). Initially, 32 participants (76.2%) were aware of guidelines at their home institution, and 27 (64.3%) did not prescribe prophylaxis as the risks outweigh the benefits. Following session administration, most participants prescribed DVT prophylaxis (<i>P</i> = <b>.004</b>) with educational sessions significantly improving the knowledge of participants regarding DVT risk following discharge (28.6% vs 52.9%; <i>P</i> = <b>.03</b>).ConclusionThis QI study demonstrated improvements in DVT prophylaxis practices among MOs. Further development and intervention is needed to improve institute-wide DVT practices.