Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level

To investigate the health literacy of the population and examine the change in knowledge when patients are administered a questionnaire about warfarin at different time points before and after counselling by a pharmacist. Patients were recruited over eight weeks, from May 2011, in a public hospital...

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Main Authors: Sean Collins, Andrew Barber, Laura J. Sahm
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-03-01
Series:Pharmacy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/2/1/114
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author Sean Collins
Andrew Barber
Laura J. Sahm
author_facet Sean Collins
Andrew Barber
Laura J. Sahm
author_sort Sean Collins
collection DOAJ
description To investigate the health literacy of the population and examine the change in knowledge when patients are administered a questionnaire about warfarin at different time points before and after counselling by a pharmacist. Patients were recruited over eight weeks, from May 2011, in a public hospital in Galway, Ireland. Inclusion criteria: (i) newly commenced on warfarin; (ii) 18 years or more; (iii) English as their first language; (iv) absence of visual or hearing difficulties. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) was used to assess health literacy (HL). Warfarin knowledge was assessed using the Anticoagulation Knowledge Assessment (AKA). Both of these tools were administered following provision of the warfarin booklet and one hour’s reading time before pharmacist counselling. The AKA was re-administered 28–56 days after the counselling. Statistical analysis was performed using PASW® v. 18. Results: Forty-three patients (55.8% male), mean (±SD) age 65.7 years (±14.2) scored an average of 58.5/66 (±9.3) in the REALM. Warfarin knowledge improved from a mean of 19/29 (±4.7), prior to verbal counselling, to 23.8 (±3.7), within 24 hours of verbal counselling. This knowledge score decreased to a mean score of 22.8 (±3.7) 28–56 days following counselling.
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spelling doaj.art-f200b4bfe8ea4084985cd91edc90fcfb2022-12-22T04:01:04ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872014-03-012111412310.3390/pharmacy2010114pharmacy2010114Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy LevelSean Collins0Andrew Barber1Laura J. Sahm2School of Pharmacy, University College, Cork 01, IrelandSchool of Pharmacy, University College, Cork 01, IrelandPharmacy Department, University Hospital Galway, Galway 01, IrelandTo investigate the health literacy of the population and examine the change in knowledge when patients are administered a questionnaire about warfarin at different time points before and after counselling by a pharmacist. Patients were recruited over eight weeks, from May 2011, in a public hospital in Galway, Ireland. Inclusion criteria: (i) newly commenced on warfarin; (ii) 18 years or more; (iii) English as their first language; (iv) absence of visual or hearing difficulties. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) was used to assess health literacy (HL). Warfarin knowledge was assessed using the Anticoagulation Knowledge Assessment (AKA). Both of these tools were administered following provision of the warfarin booklet and one hour’s reading time before pharmacist counselling. The AKA was re-administered 28–56 days after the counselling. Statistical analysis was performed using PASW® v. 18. Results: Forty-three patients (55.8% male), mean (±SD) age 65.7 years (±14.2) scored an average of 58.5/66 (±9.3) in the REALM. Warfarin knowledge improved from a mean of 19/29 (±4.7), prior to verbal counselling, to 23.8 (±3.7), within 24 hours of verbal counselling. This knowledge score decreased to a mean score of 22.8 (±3.7) 28–56 days following counselling.http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/2/1/114health literacyREALMwarfarin knowledgeAKApharmacistanticoagulantIreland
spellingShingle Sean Collins
Andrew Barber
Laura J. Sahm
Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
Pharmacy
health literacy
REALM
warfarin knowledge
AKA
pharmacist
anticoagulant
Ireland
title Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
title_full Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
title_fullStr Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
title_short Pharmacist’s Counselling Improves Patient Knowledge Regarding Warfarin, Irrespective of Health Literacy Level
title_sort pharmacist s counselling improves patient knowledge regarding warfarin irrespective of health literacy level
topic health literacy
REALM
warfarin knowledge
AKA
pharmacist
anticoagulant
Ireland
url http://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/2/1/114
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