To the Editor: The recent article by Lowthian and colleagues raises some important concerns regarding current management of warfarin therapy in Australia, especially the provision of quality warfarin education.1 While the study focused on the uncertainty surrounding who is responsible for this task, additional barriers to providing warfarin education include limited access to suitable resources and a tendency to rely on a single verbal counselling session and/or the supply of written material, often just before discharge from hospital.2
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- Unit for Medications Outcomes Research and Education, School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS.
- 1. Lowthian JA, Diug BO, Evans SM, et al. Who is responsible for the care of patients treated with warfarin therapy? Med J Aust 2009; 190: 674-677. <MJA full text>
- 2. Bajorek BV, Ogle SJ, Duguid MJ, et al. Management of warfarin in atrial fibrillation: views of health professionals, older patients and their carers. Med J Aust 2007; 186: 175-180. <MJA full text>
- 3. Medicare Australia. For health professionals. Home Medicines Review (HMR). http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/fourth-agreement/hmr.jsp (accessed Aug 2009).
- 4. Heneghan C, Alonso-Coello P, Garcia-Alamino JM, et al. Self-monitoring of oral anticoagulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2006; 367: 404-411.