Knowledge of and attitude toward venous thromboembolism among professional drivers in Saudi Arabia. Issue 5 (28th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alnaser, Adnan Raed; Khojah, Abdullah Abdulaziz Abdulwahab; Hashemi, Ammar S. A.; Alsabban, Bandar; Musa, Ammar Y. E.; Albasheer, Eltayeb A.; Rajab, Tawfik Mamoun; Ali, Mohamed A.; Saquib, Juliann; Almazrou, Abdulrahman; Saquib, Nazmus
• Is Part Of: Archives of environmental & occupational health. Volume 77:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 396
• Page End: 402
• Publication Date: 2022-05-28
• Subjects: Awareness -- deep vein thrombosis -- professional drivers -- pulmonary embolism -- venous thromboembolism; Medicine, Preventive -- Periodicals; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational diseases -- Periodicals; Environmental Health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1910118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-8244

Abstract

Abstract: Evidence suggests that professional drivers are at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), a life-threatening yet preventable disease. Awareness of VTE among this population has not been assessed in the Middle East. The study aimed to assess professional drivers' awareness of VTE and attitudes toward VTE preventive measures. We used a validated VTE awareness questionnaire to interview 324 drivers in Saudi Arabia during February-March 2020. Knowledge about VTE was the lowest compared to other medical conditions. Less than a third (31.8%) of the drivers were aware of VTE. Only 15.7% of those with prior awareness correctly identified all four deep vein thrombosis symptoms, and only 7.4% correctly identified all five pulmonary embolism symptoms. A significant proportion believed in unrelated practices for VTE prevention. Health promotion campaigns are urgently needed to raise awareness and to promote healthy behaviors.