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Anticoagulation - oral - Management
Who is suitable for warfarin self-testing or self-management?

  • People who require long-term anticoagulation can be considered for warfarin self-testing or self management.
    • Those who may benefit most are those who are frequently away from home, are in employment or in education, or find it difficult to travel to clinics.
    • Previous stability of INR is not a prerequisite to home testing as people with an unstable INR may benefit from the possibility of increased frequency of testing.
  • The following criteria should be met before self-testing is considered:
    • The person is both physically and cognitively able to perform the self-monitoring test or a designated carer is able to do so.
    • An adequate supportive educational programme is in place to train the person and/or carers.
    • The person's ability to self-test of self-manage can be regularly reviewed.
    • The person will have access to appropriately trained healthcare professionals for ongoing advice and support (including if they plan to travel abroad).
  • The following additional criterion should also be met before self-managing is considered:
    • The person is cognitively able to follow an individualized algorithm to adjust their own dose of warfarin, or a designated carer is able to do so.
  • The following people are not suitable for self-testing or self-management:
    • Those who fail to attend clinic appointments (unless work, school, or access make it hard to attend clinic, in which case self-testing or self-managing may be helpful).
    • Those who do not adhere to their dosage instructions.
    • Those who do not wish to do so.

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