title: Healthcare resources and needs in anticoagulant therapy for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. SAMOA Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine, in the various medical specialties, the healthcare process for anticoagulated patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, to determine the available and necessary resources and to identify potential areas of improvement in the care of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional survey of primary care and specialised physicians involved in the care of anticoagulated patients. The questionnaires referred to the healthcare process, the indication and prescription of anticoagulant therapy and the barriers and deficiencies present for these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 893 physicians participated in the study, 437 of whom worked in primary care and 456 of whom were specialists (mostly cardiologists). Forty-two percent of the family doctors indicated that they assessed and prescribed anticoagulant therapy, and 66% performed the regular follow-up of these patients. In both healthcare settings, the physicians noted the lack of standardised protocols. There was also a lack of quality control in the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of primary care in managing anticoagulated patients has grown compared with previous reports. The responses of the participating physicians suggest marked gaps in the standardisation of the healthcare process and several areas for improvement in these patients' follow-up. The promotion of training in direct-acting anticoagulant drugs remains pivotal.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España. Electronic address: vivenciobarrios@gmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Isla de Oza, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Egocheaga-Cabello
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gállego-Culleré
authors.affiliation: Gestión Sanitaria y Calidad Asistencial, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ignacio-García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzano-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hematología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mateo-Arranz
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Casar de Cáceres, Cáceres, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polo-García
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalario de Alta Resolución (CHARE) El Toyo, Almería, España.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vargas-Ortega
keywords: Accidente cerebrovascular; Anticoagulant therapy; Fibrilación auricular no valvular; Haemorrhage; Healthcare process; Hemorragia; Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; Prevención secundaria; Proceso asistencial; Secondary prevention; Stroke; Tratamiento anticoagulante