title: Evaluating Patients' Understanding of Printed Warfarin Medication Information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Warfarin is a high-risk medication whose safe use may be greatly improved by patient education. This study evaluate evaluated patients' understanding of warfarin instructions, medication management, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) warfarin medication guide content, and patient information recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews conducted at 2 hospital-based outpatient primary care sites with patients initiated on warfarin therapy within the last year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interviews were conducted with 49 patients. Seventy percent were between 36 and 64 years old and reported taking between 1 and 18 different medications daily. Many (76%) received information about warfarin when first prescribed to them, 65% written and 60% verbal (answers reflect more than one response). Patients found content in the medication guide difficult to understand; 18% were unable to identify information about diet and 21% were unable to locate information about when to call their provider. Analysis showed that 19% had trouble with numeracy issues related to warfarin. Patients' suggestions of ways to convey warfarin information included more graphics, in-person counseling, and multilingual translations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates gaps in patients' understanding of warfarin therapy. Relying solely on the information in the FDA medication guide is insufficient to guarantee adequate understanding. Utilizing the suggestions from patients' feedback on other ways to deliver information should help future patients with different learning abilities and styles.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA NYC Poison Control Center, New York, NY, USA Lauren.Schwartz@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Queens, New York, NY, USA Division of General Internal Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Great Neck, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nissa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA NYC Poison Control Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA NYC Poison Control Center, New York, NY, USA St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Queens, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Howland
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA NYC Poison Control Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercurio-Zappala
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Toxicology, NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA NYC Poison Control Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Lewis S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D014859:Warfarin; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin
keywords: patient education; warfarin