TRial of an Educational intervention on patients' knowledge of Atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapy, INR control, and outcome of Treatment with warfarin (TREAT).

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a high risk of stroke are recommended anticoagulation with warfarin. However, the benefit of warfarin is dependent upon time spent within the target therapeutic range (TTR) of their international normalised ratio (INR) (2.0 to 3.0). AF patients possess limited knowledge of their disease and warfarin treatment and this can impact on INR control. Education can improve patients' understanding of warfarin therapy and factors which affect INR control. METHODS/DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial of an intensive educational intervention will consist of group sessions (between 2-8 patients) containing standardised information about the risks and benefits associated with OAC therapy, lifestyle interactions and the importance of monitoring and control of their International Normalised Ratio (INR). Information will be presented within an 'expert-patient' focussed DVD, revised educational booklet and patient worksheets. 200 warfarin-naïve patients who are eligible for warfarin will be randomised to either the intervention or usual care groups. All patients must have ECG-documented AF and be eligible for warfarin (according to the NICE AF guidelines). Exclusion criteria include: aged < 18 years old, contraindication(s) to warfarin, history of warfarin USE, valvular heart disease, cognitive impairment, are unable to speak/read English and disease likely to cause death within 12 months. Primary endpoint is time spent in TTR. Secondary endpoints include measures of quality of life (AF-QoL-18), anxiety and depression (HADS), knowledge of AF and anticoagulation, beliefs about medication (BMQ) and illness representations (IPQ-R). Clinical outcomes, including bleeding, stroke and interruption to anticoagulation will be recorded. All outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and 1, 2, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. DISCUSSION: More data is needed on the clinical benefit of educational intervention with AF patients receiving warfarin. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN93952605.

Patients' satisfaction associated with portable coagulometers for warfarin monitoring: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The use of point-of-care (POC) coagulometers for monitoring patients on vitamin K antagonist (VKA) treatment makes international normalised ratio (INR) results immediately available. The aim of this study was to compare patients' satisfaction with VKA treatment in two settings characterised by distinct ways of monitoring: POC INR versus laboratory INR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited adult patients on long-term warfarin treatment (July 2017-February 2018) from the Anticoagulation Clinics at five district health centres (namely Cospicua, Floriana, Mosta, Qormi, Rabat-POC INR) and at Mater Dei Hospital (Msida - Laboratory INR) in Malta. We administered two psychometric questionnaires: the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS) (range 25-175, lower scores corresponding to higher satisfaction) and the Perception of Anticoagulation Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q2) (range 0-100, higher scores corresponding to higher satisfaction). RESULTS: We analysed 313 questionnaires (POC INR n=159, laboratory INR n=154). In the POC INR cohort, median age was 72 years and 59.1% were males; in the laboratory INR cohort, median age was 70.5 years and 46.1% were males. The POC INR cohort obtained significantly lower overall DASS score (p<0.001) and significantly higher PACT-Q2 scores (p<0.001 for the subscale "convenience"; p=0.039 for the subscale "anticoagulant treatment satisfaction") than the laboratory INR cohort. In multiple regression analysis, the use of POC coagulometers was significantly associated with the overall DASS score (p=0.013) and the PACT-Q2 convenience score (p=0.012). DISCUSSION: Patients on warfarin treatment were generally satisfied. Patients monitored with the POC INR with a dedicated time slot reported less inconvenience and burdens and better psychological impact than patients monitored with the traditional laboratory INR.

Pyogenic granuloma as a surrogate indicator of deep seated foreign bodies: a case report.

Although pyogenic granulomas are often clinically associated with foreign bodies or recurrent traumatic injury, this association is not well documented. We report a case of a recurrent, intractable pyogenic granuloma due to a missed foreign body. An extensive search retrieved no previous literature reporting this association. This lack of evidence bases may hinder the hand surgeon from extending the wound incision and thorough exploration. Recurrent pyogenic granulomas should lead the hand surgeon to entertain the possibility of a missed foreign body.