Pre-operative education improves patient compliance with extended venous thromboembolic prophylaxis

Patients undergoing abdominal surgery are at risk for potentially fatal venous thromboembolism (VTE). In order to decrease this risk, these patients are prescribed an extended course of VTE prophylaxis in the form of daily injections. This thesis examines the effect of giving formal pre-operative education and its effect on patient compliance with this treatment regimen, and on patient beliefs and attitudes toward VTE and the treatment. It establishes that formal pre-operative education may provide some benefit to patient compliance.