Objective: To assess an interdisciplinary follow-up programme for institutionalised elderly people on oral anticoagulant treatment.
Method: The proposed follow-up treatment is of an interdisciplinary nature and includes INR, an interview with the patient and/or carer and an assessment of the treatment plan every week. The quality of drug treatment is assessed by the percentage of time and the percentage of measurements falling within the therapeutic range. The suitability of the programme in comparison to the traditional follow-up was studied in terms of the different proportions for the first variable and by analysing contingency tables for the second.
Results: Nine patients were recruited. Six patients (67%) showed a significant increase in the percentage of time they remained within the therapeutic range. 68.5% of INR measurements during the follow-up programme were within therapeutic range. The percentage of INR measurements below the therapeutic range was significantly reduced when compared to the traditional follow up. Thirteen pharmaceutical interventions were documented per patient.
Conclusions: The complexity of oral anticoagulant treatment, the large number of interventions carried out together with elderly patients poor treatment compliance are evidence of the need to introduce follow-up programmes which include the professionals responsible for the patients care.