RESUMO
Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are used by 1,7% of the French population. Patient education and monitoring can decrease the number of iatrogenic hospitalizations due to VKA. We assessed the impact of a communication between hospital and retail pharmacists about patient's knowledge on VKA. The aim of our study has been to evaluate the value added by the link between the hospital pharmacist and the community pharmacist on the follow-up of patients treated by vitamin K antagonist. Patient information about VKA treatment is offered to inpatients in our hospital. An information form is filled for each patient treated by VKA. Patient's knowledge is assessed on the document (Name of VKA, cause of treatment, monitoring, risks of overdose, compliance ). This form is sent to the community pharmacist after the training when the patient leaves the hospital (by fax or by email). The form is sent back by the community pharmacist after the second training. Sixty-eight patients received the training, 48 forms have been sent to the retail pharmacists and 43 forms have been sent back to the hospital. Seven retail pharmacists replied spontaneously. Twenty-eight patients increased their knowledge (in average+21%) and 12 patients stabilized their knowledge. The best-known concepts were the INR target, the time of drug intake, the risks of overdose and the information of the family. The improvement of knowledge is significant for the name of VKA, the cause of treatment, efficacy assessment and signs of overdose. The implementation of a communication between the hospital and the retail pharmacies is time-consuming but the follow-up of those patients seems essential to keep a good knowledge.