To investigate the knowledge of anticoagulant knowledge and the use of anticoagulant drugs by physicians in western China, and to provide scientific basis for the standardization of anticoagulant treatment.

We conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate demographic chaoalteristics,work and study experience,the knowledge and use of anticoagulant drugs of physicians in ten provinces in western China (Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Shanxi, Xizang, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Ningxia) from September 2017 to September 2018.

A total of 2 671 questionnaires were issued and 2 436 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a response rate of 91.2%. The overall awareness rate were 81.9% and 71.6% with regard to CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and HAS-BLED score, respectively, with statistically significant differences among different provinces (P<0.001) . Logistic regression analysis showed that education level, department and lecture frequency were correlated with stroke score awareness. The proportion of primary and community hospitals, secondary hospitals and tertiary hospitals using anticoagulation score as the basis for anticoagulation therapy was 26.7%, 45.0% and 59.4%, respectively. The proportion that antiplatelet therapy could replace anticoagulation therapy was 76.6%, 45.6% and 33.7%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (allP<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) awareness was correlated with academic departments and lecture frequency. Physicians in Gansu and Sichuan regions tend to use warfarin, while the higher of training and learning, the more likely they were to use NOACs use.

There are obvious regiond, education background and hospital level in physicians, knowledge of anticoagulant and the use of anticoagulant drugs among physicians in western China. Multiple training and learning can strengthen physicians’knowledge of anticoagulation and the use of NOACs.

Atrial fibrillation; Anticoagulant therapy; Cross-sectional study