Knowledges about herbal products among subjects on warfarin therapy and patient-physician relationship: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to analyse behaviours and patient-physician relationship about phytotherapy among a sample of Italian patients on warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation.


METHODS
During a 4-month study period, interviews of patients on warfarin therapy, followed regularly in the medical laboratories to monitor INR values, were conducted on the basis of a pre-structured 25-item questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among a study population of 294 patients, 69 subjects reported to have been taking one or more phytotherapic products in the last year in combination with warfarin. Users were mostly in the age group >50 years and had a low level of education. Five out of 69 patients reported side effects, while 16/69 referred an unstable INR value. The majority of our subjects considered phytotherapy useful and without risks.


CONCLUSIONS
The present survey highlights the potential risk of confidence with the 'natural world', the lack of discussion on this argument among health care providers and patients on warfarin therapy and the need to monitor strictly the INR value.
Cuzzolin
Laura
L
Department of Medicine & Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Italy. laura.cuzzolin@univr.it
Francini-Pesenti
Francesco
F
Zaffani
Silvana
S
Brocadello
Filippo
F
Pengo
Vittorio
V
Bassi
Antonella
A
Benoni
Giuseppina
G
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000737:chemistry; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012651:Self Medication; D029846:Senna Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D031205:Taraxacum / Q000737:chemistry; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014859:Warfarin