New educational approach for patients on warfarin improves knowledge and therapy control.

BACKGROUND

Patient education is essential for a safe and efficient oral anticoagulant treatment. We examined if a newly launched booklet with information on anticoagulant treatment with warfarin improved patient knowledge and the time spent in the therapeutic-range (TTR).

METHODS

Standardized questionnaire was administered to 235 consecutive patients on warfarin to assess their baseline knowledge and readministered it 2 months after they received the booklet. A control group of 51 patients was interviewed only after the booklet had been distributed.

RESULTS

Patient's knowledge at the baseline was unsatisfying (mean questionnaire score: 11/16) and a substantial progress was achieved after the educational intervention (mean questionnaire score: 13/16, p = 0.001). TTR is significantly increased after the intervention (63.4 ± 22.3 vs. 74.6 ± 23.8 %; p < 0.01). The mean questionnaire score and TTR after education were not different in the intervention and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge about oral anticoagulant treatment and TTR is increased after the issue of the booklet in the majority of patients. However, for a small group of patients with unimproved knowledge new forms of education are needed.