title: Oral anticoagulation and self-management: analysis of the factors that determine the feasibility of using self-testing and self-management in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The skills of patients on oral anticoagulants are critical for achieving good outcomes with this treatment. Self-management, or the capacity of patients to control their INR level and adjust their treatment, is an effective strategy of treatment. Capacity of patients to self manage is determined by a range of factors. The identification of these factors would improve the design of self management programmes and in turn increase the number of patients able to self-manage. The objective of our study is to identify those factors that determine the ability of patients on oral anticoagulant therapy to achieve self-management of their treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This will be a three year quasi- experimental prospective study with a control group. 333 patients on anticoagulant therapy from five health centres of the Basque Health Service are to be followed up for a period of six months each after the intervention, to assess their ability to self-test and self-manage. The intervention will consist of a patient training programme involving the provision of information and practical training concerning their condition and its treatment, as well as how to use a portable blood coagulation monitoring device and adjust their anticoagulant dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ease-of-use of this technique lead us to believe that self-management is feasible and will represent an innovative advance that should have a substantial impact on the quality of life of this patients and their families as well as on the health care provision systems.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Osakidetza Protocol Record ISCIII-11/02285, Oral anticoagulation and self-management, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01878539.
authors: Gros Health Centre, Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain. eduardo.tamayoaguirre@osakidetza.net.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Tamayo Aguirre
authors: Itziar
authors: I
authors: Vergara-Mitxeltorena
authors: Edurne
authors: E
authors: Uranga Saez Del Burgo
authors: Aitziber
authors: A
authors: Ostiza-Irigoyen
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Garcia-Carro
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Lopez-Fernandez
authors: Arrate
authors: A
authors: Galo-Anza
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019468:Disease Management; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
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