Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF WARFARIN THERAPY AND ITS CORRELATION WITH INR CONTROL IN CARDIOLOGY OUTPATIENTS

Rehana John*, Jisha James, Santhosh M. Mathews and Sajan Ahmad Z.

ABSTRACT

Warfarin is an anticoagulant widely used for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. It has a narrow therapeutic index, the dose response varies among patients and is subject to adjustment due to genetics and its interactions with other drugs and food, patient’s concurrent disease, compliance and overall knowledge of therapy. So the patient must be educated fully regarding warfarin therapy to maintain good INR control. Aim: To assess the patients’ knowledge in warfarin therapy and its correlation with INR control in Cardiology Outpatients. Objectives: To assess patient’s knowledge on warfarin therapy and provide patient education. To analyze the association between patient’s warfarin knowledge and time in therapeutic range (TTR). Methodology: A Prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital at the Dept. of Cardiology for a period of six months in patients who satisfied both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results and Discussion: In this study,40 patients we studied. Patient’s knowledge (OAK score) on anticoagulation increased from an average of 9.6±3.2 to 17.6±1.98 (P<0.05) after clinical pharmacist’s counselling. After counselling the mean TTR showed an increase from 44.79% to 75.43% (TTR ≥75 indicates good INR control) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in improving knowledge and INR goal attainment of patients on warfarin therapy.

Keywords: 9.6±3.2 to 17.6±1.98 (P<0.05) after clinical pharmacist’s counselling. After counselling the mean TTR showed an increase from 44.79% to 75.43% (TTR ?75 indicates good INR control) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in improving