Educational Tools for Warfarin Prescribers and Their Patients
Anticoagulant therapy with warfarin must be closely managed to maintain a therapeutic range and avoid adverse events (both bleeding and clotting). Warfarin also interacts with many other drugs and foods. Because of this risk profile, it is important that warfarin prescribers and patients work together to maximize the safety of warfarin therapy. Arizona CERT has developed several educational tools to help with this effort. These tools have been reviewed by a panel of national experts on warfarin patient education. Please contact us if you have questions or comments.
Tools for Clinicians*
Patient Agreement: suggested language for anticoagulation clinic agreement with patients describing patient responsibilities. Can be modified for individual providers.
Patient Education Checklist: a clinical tool to assess patients' educational readiness, receptivity to educational tools and methods, and level of knowledge about warfarin.
* Adapted from forms contained in Managing Oral Anticoagulation Therapy: Clinical and Operational Guidelines, 2nd Edition (Ansell, Oertel & Wittkowsky, 2005)
Resources for Patients
My Medicine List: an 8½ x 11" form showing all current prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements for patients to complete, carry with them at all times, and show to their doctors and pharmacists
Mis Medicamentos: the above medicine list in spanish
My Medicine List-wallet size: a smaller medicine list form that can be folded to wallet card size.
Questions and Answers About Taking Warfarin: a list of important, frequently-asked questions about warfarin. It can be printed on one double-sided sheet.
Preguntas y Respuestas Acerca de Warfarin: the above frequently asked questions in Spanish.
INR Results Chart for Anticoagulation Patients (NOT for heart valve patients): a chart for patients to keep track of their INR blood test results over time and see if they are staying within their goal range.
Gráfica de INR (NO es para pacientes con reemplazo de válvulas cardiacas): the above chart in Spanish.
INR Results Chart for Heart Valve Patients: the same chart as above, with a different goal range for patients with heart valve replacements.
Gráfica de INR de los pacientes de válvula del corazón: the above chart for heart valve patients in Spanish.
Medical Alert ID Card: a wallet-size card for warfarin patients to carry with them at all times in case of emergency.
Links to Other Resources for Patients
Your Guide to Coumadin®/Warfarin Therapy: a large-format booklet for patients from the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that explains what to expect and what to watch out for during therapy.
Su guía para la terapia con Coumadin®/Warfarina: the above booklet in Spanish
A Patient's Guide to Taking Coumadin/Warfarin: patient information about warfarin from the medical journal, Circulation (2009), published by the American Heart Association.
www.mybloodthinner.org: a site to help patients, caregivers, and health care providers manage blood thinners more safely. Launched in May 2006, this site is a project of SOS Rx, a medication safety coalition convened by the National Consumers League (www.nclnet.org).
Medline Plus: Bloodthinners: MedlinePlus is an excellent source of authoritative and up-to-date health information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
