Introduction: The direct oral anticoagulants are used to treat thromboembolisms and atrial fibrillation. Treatment is usually performed as outpatient care, which requires the patient to identify complications and act on them properly. Health education is adjusted to the patient's age and level of education. During the process, the patient acquires knowledge which enables them to manage and live with the disease. The relationship between healthcare workers and patients involves enthusiasm, motivation and responsiveness to the patient’s needs. Purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine the level of the patients' knowledge about the treatment with direct oral anticoagulants. Methods: We used the descriptive method of research to perform a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Our sample consisted of the patients who are being treated with the direct oral anticoagulants in the anticoagulation clinic at the Poliklinika Ljubljana. The data was gathered in 2019 with the use of a questionnaire and processed with Microsoft Excel 2016 program. We performed the basic statistical analysis and the chi-square test. Results: On the question regarding the timing between each medication intake, only 12% of respondents answered correctly. There was a low proportion of correct answers to the questions about the management of gum bleeding and identification of gastrointestinal bleeding. Almost half of the respondents knew that St. John's wort is a contraindicated dietary supplement and that influenza vaccination is recommended. More correct answers had questions related to the correct behaviour in case of the planned surgery, management of the incision and correct choice of pain therapy. 87 % of respondents knew what to do when you are not sure whether you have already taken your dose of the medication or not. Younger respondents, women and those with higher level of education showed more knowledge than the rest. Discussion and conclusion: The research reveals the need for a higher level of knowledge to ensure the safe use of direct oral anticoagulants in the outpatient care. We have identified areas within healthcare education that need to be improved and researched which demographic groups require special focus. Healthcare workers have to constantly educate themselves, because having knowledge of the disease, its treatment and the ability to adapt to the patient and his family is the base of a successful health education.
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