الفهرس 
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Abstract
Oral anticoagulation although of proven benefit in a number of
disorders can be dangerous without careful monitoring. Managing long term
oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in patients is a complex task. Some
cardiovascular diseases precipitate an unwanted blood coagulation action
requiring the use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) such as atrial fibrillation
(AF), venous thromboembolism, and patients with prosthetic heart valves,
congestive heart failure (CHF), and myocardial infarction (MI). The use of
OACs requires some care in order to control the desirable levels of blood
coagulation and to prevent hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications.
Such care can lead to changes in the lifestyle of patients since this involves
changes in the dietary habits, the use of alcohol and the performance of
physical activity, as well as the overload caused by new tasks related to the
use of medication, such as the habit of daily ingestion of the medication and
the need for frequent visits to health services for monitoring of the
anticoagulation range, and the fear of complications such as bleeding and
thrombus formation. All these changes caused by the use of the drug may
impair the quality of life (QoL) of the patient. Aim: The present study aimed
to assess the effect of oral anticoagulant therapy on patients’ quality of life.
Methods: A descriptive exploratory design was used. Setting: this study was
conducted at cardiac outpatients clinics at Ain Shams University Hospital
which are affiliated to Ain Shams University Sample: A purposive sample of
(100) adult patients with diagnosis of AF both gender on oral anticoagulant
therapy were recruited for the conduction of this study. Tool: Patients’ quality
of life questionnaire sheet. Results: The OAT had –ve effect on total QoL
for patients under study ranged from low –ve 16%, moderate –ve 61% and
high –ve effect 23%. Furthermore, there is no statistically significant relation
between patients’ total QoL affection & their characteristic including gender,
education , occupation, type, dose & duration of OAT p>0.005. Meanwhile,
there is statistically significant relation between their QoL affection & age
p<0.001 & marital status p<0.05 Conclusion: Oral anticoagulant therapy has
statistically significant –ve effect on total QoL (General health, Physical
activities, Physical, Emotional health problems, Social activities, Pain and
Vitality) of all patients under study ranged from low, moderate and high –ve
effect. Recommendations: Further research studies are needed to focus on
studying factors affecting QoL for patients’ on oral anticoagulant therapy.