VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM PREVENTION: ADDRESSING KNOWLEDGE GAPS AT UUTH, NIGERIA

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. Despite being largely preventable, VTE remains a significant clinical challenge due to inadequate risk recognition, poor implementation of thromboprophylaxis, and gaps in healthcare provider knowledge. Globally, VTE affects 1–2 individuals per 1000 annually, with hospital-acquired cases accounting for up to 75% of VTE-related deaths. This burden is compounded by a range of risk factors such as advanced age, immobility, malignancy, obesity, indwelling catheters, trauma, and neurological impairments, necessitating timely and accurate risk stratification in clinical settings. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria, the effective prevention of hospital-acquired VTE is often hindered by limited resources, lack of standardized guidelines, and insufficient healthcare worker awareness. This situation underscores the urgent need for increased education, structured risk assessment tools, and adherence to evidence-based thromboprophylaxis protocols to reduce preventable VTE-associated morbidity and mortality. This paper explores knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for improving VTE prevention practices at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Nigeria, aiming to enhance patient safety and clinical outcomes