Resource Consumption in Monitoring Warfarin Treatment in Sweden
Author Information
Author(s): Andersson Stina, Björholt Ingela, Nilsson Gunnar H, Krakau Ingvar
Primary Institution: AstraZeneca Sverige AB
Hypothesis
What are the management and resource consumption associated with INR monitoring episodes during warfarin treatment in primary health care in Sweden?
Conclusion
Monitoring of patients during treatment with warfarin in primary health care in Sweden involves many elements of work and demands large resources, especially when tests are taken in the patient's home.
Supporting Evidence
- Average time for one monitoring episode was estimated to be 10.1 minutes for a GP and 21.4 minutes for a nurse.
- 11.6% of patient blood samples were taken in the individual patient's home.
- Total average time for all participating GPs was 15.4 minutes.
Takeaway
Doctors and nurses spend a lot of time checking patients on warfarin, especially when they have to go to the patients' homes.
Methodology
The Delphi technique was used to explore attitudes and collect informed judgments related to monitoring of warfarin treatment through two separate panels.
Limitations
The study only captured the time spent by GPs and nurses, excluding other personnel like laboratory staff.
Participant Demographics
Participants included general practitioners and nurses from primary health care centers in Sweden.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website