ALBERT

Description: Abstract 4731 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) impose a major public health burden in the United States, affecting an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 individuals and accounting for ~100,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to The Surgeon General's Call to Action (CTA) To Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (2008). In response to this CTA, the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), a national, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombosis and thrombophilia, conducted a survey to benchmark DVT/PE awareness among the general public. Little information about the public's knowledge of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is found in the literature, making this one of the most comprehensive, relatively large surveys of its kind. This DVT/PE awareness survey was conducted in November 2009, among a representative cross-section of 500 adults, 〉20 years, participating in online research panels. Among all respondents surveyed, just 21% said that they had heard of a medical condition called DVT (unaided), and, among this group (n=104), 86% correctly identified it as “deep vein thrombosis” on an aided checklist. Among those respondents who had not heard of a DVT or who had made an incorrect checklist selection (n=411), when DVT was identified for them as “deep vein thrombosis,” 29% then said they knew what it was. Among all respondents, just 16% said that they had heard of a medical condition called PE, and, among this group (n=80), 83% identified it correctly as “pulmonary embolism” on an aided checklist. Awareness of specific DVT risk factors and DVT/PE signs/symptoms was low. Results of this survey show that the medical lexicon poses substantial barriers: only 23% of all respondents reported to know what thrombophilia means and just 9% had heard of VTE. Conversely, 8 in 10 of all respondents said that they do know what a blood clot is, and virtually all respondents (98%) said that they believe blood clots can be life-threatening. The leading factors respondents said they believe are risks for causing blood clots included: family history of blood clots (73%), major trauma (71%), major surgery (69%), and being bedridden (68%), while

Description: Background Sickle cell trait (SCT) affects approximately 8% of African Americans and these individuals are at risk of having children with SCT and sickle cell disease (SCD). Universal newborn screening in the United States detects SCT, but only 16% of individuals of childbearing age with SCT know their status. This is because SCT is not reliably recorded in medical records and SCT may not be consistently or effectively communicated to caregivers. Interventions that increase caregivers' SCT knowledge are important so that individuals with SCT can make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine if in-person SCT education with a trained educator improved caregivers' SCT knowledge and to assess caregivers' satisfaction with their SCT education. Methods Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) is a SCT referral center in Columbus, OH. At NCH, it is standard that caregivers of infants with SCT who are referred by their primary care providers receive in-person SCT education using visual aids from an educator who has completed a hemoglobinopathy counselor training course. From August 2015-July 2016, we performed a prospective, cross-sectional study of English-speaking caregivers of infants with hemoglobin S-trait who presented for education. Caregivers were excluded if they had SCD or previously received SCT education at NCH. Prior to receiving education, subjects electronically reported their demographic information and completed a health literacy assessment using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS, range 0-6) and an 8-question (true/false, multiple choice) pilot-tested, SCT knowledge assessment (SCTKA) that included items from a published SCT knowledge study and items routinely discussed during NCH SCT education. Lower NVS scores suggest a higher likelihood of limited health literacy. Caregivers with SCTKA scores

Description: Abstract 4740 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) affect up to 600,000 individuals and account for ~100,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to The Surgeon General's Call to Action (CTA) To Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (2008). Oncology patients, particularly those who are hospitalized or undergo chemotherapy, are at increased risk for DVT/PE. Mortality is greater among patients with cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) than among those with cancer alone. In response to the Surgeon General's CTA, the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), a national, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombosis and thrombophilia, conducted a survey to benchmark DVT/PE awareness among the general public and several at-risk patient groups, including oncology patients. The literature contains little information about at-risk patient knowledge, and almost no information about general public knowledge of VTE, making this the first, large survey of both public and at-risk patient awareness of DVT/PE. The survey was conducted in November 2009, among a representative cross-section of 500 adults, 〉20 years, participating in online research panels. For comparison, the identical survey was conducted among a sample of 500 adults, 〉20 years, screened from an online research panel, who had received a cancer diagnosis or experienced recurrence of cancer within the past 6 months, or who were on active cancer treatment. Evaluations comparing survey responses provided by oncology patients who, in connection with their treatment, did require a hospital stay versus those who did not require a hospital stay showed no statistically significant differences in DVT/PE awareness between the two subgroups. Among all oncology patients surveyed, 24% said that they had heard of a medical condition called DVT, compared to 21% of the general public. Among all respondents who said that they knew what a DVT was (unaided) or who were able to correctly identify DVT on an aided checklist, 61% of oncology and 53% of national respondents said they could name DVT risk factors. The most frequently mentioned DVT risk factor was “sitting for a long time” among both the oncology (45%) and national (28%) samples. Among oncology patients who could name DVT risk factors (n=155), 8% named surgery, 1% named cancer treatment. Among national respondents who could name DVT risk factors (n=109), significantly more (79%) said they could name DVT signs/symptoms compared to oncology respondents (63%) who said the same. While not statistically significant, the national sample did show greater recognition of certain DVT signs/symptoms: skin redness/discoloration, 41% national, 21% oncology; leg swelling, 50% national, 31% oncology; and, leg pain, 37% national, 27% oncology. PE awareness was low among both groups, with 15% of all oncology and 16% of all national respondents saying that they had heard of PE. Of those who what said they knew what a PE was (unaided) or identified it correctly from an aided checklist, about one-third of both groups said they could name PE signs/symptoms, with “breathing difficulties” cited most frequently by oncology (69%) and national (73%) respondents. Significantly fewer oncology patients (28%) mentioned chest pain/tightness as a PE sign/symptom, compared to the national sample (57%). About 8 in 10 oncology and national respondents said that they did know what a blood clot is, and virtually all respondents (98%) recognized blood clots as life threatening. DVT/PE awareness/knowledge was low. Despite increased risk, oncology patients demonstrated no greater awareness of DVT/PE than the general public. DVT/PE education, utilizing interventions identified in the Surgeon General's DVT/PE CTA, should target the general public, with special emphasis on at-risk oncology patients to fill gaps relative to increased DVT/PE risks and signs/symptoms. Terms should be further simplified for future public awareness and patient education initiatives. Disclosures: Brownstein: Ortho-McNeil, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Data reported from project supported by Ortho-McNeil, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ansell:Bayer, Inc: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Data Safety Monitoring Boards; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingleheim: Consultancy; Ortho McNeil: Consultancy; Sanofi Aventis: Speakers Bureau.