Patient self-management of oral anticoagulation.
Patient self-management of oral anticoagulation is now widely practised in Germany and the USA. There are three different home-testing monitors available in the UK which are all reliable in terms of accuracy and reproducibility of results. Selected patients can be trained to perform their own International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing and dosing, with outcomes as good if not better than those from specialized anticoagulant clinics. Consensus on the frequency of testing and what quality control should be deployed is lacking. The cost-effectiveness in the UK is unproven.
Department of Haematology, The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan Lane, Wigan WN1 2NN, UK. manju.bhavnani@wigan.lhs-tr.nwest.nhs.uk
Manju
M
Bhavnani
C R
CR
Shiach
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000191:economics; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D011786:Quality Control; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom
D000925:Anticoagulants