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Knowledges about herbal products among subjects on warfarin therapy and patient–physician relationship: a pilot study
Author(s) -
Cuzzolin Laura,
FranciniPesenti Francesco,
Zaffani Silvana,
Brocadello Filippo,
Pengo Vittorio,
Bassi Antonella,
Bei Giuseppina
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.1446
Subject(s) - medicine , warfarin , atrial fibrillation , pharmacoepidemiology , confidence interval , population , family medicine , pediatrics , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , environmental health , pharmacology , medical prescription
Purpose The purpose of our study was to analyse behaviours and patient–physician relationship about phytotherapy among a sample of Italian patients on warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation. Methods During a 4‐month study period, interviews of patients on warfarin therapy, followed regularly in the medical laboratories to monitor INR values, were conducted on the basis of a pre‐structured 25‐item questionnaire. Results Among a study population of 294 patients, 69 subjects reported to have been taking one or more phytotherapic products in the last year in combination with warfarin. Users were mostly in the age group >50 years and had a low level of education. Five out of 69 patients reported side effects, while 16/69 referred an unstable INR value. The majority of our subjects considered phytotherapy useful and without risks. Conclusions The present survey highlights the potential risk of confidence with the ‘natural world’, the lack of discussion on this argument among health care providers and patients on warfarin therapy and the need to monitor strictly the INR value. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.