Table 11 Cardiovascular nurses knowledge on how to advise patients on warfarin
Question | n (%) |
|---|---|
While on warfarin the patient: | |
• Should not eat spinach • Can eat spinach once a month • Can eat as much spinach as he likes whenever he likes • Can eat spinach but needs to eat the same amount every week • Don’t know • Skipped question | 9 (18) 1 (2) 2 (4) 34 (69) 3 (6) 6 |
While out with friends for dinner, your patient has just finished his third glass of wine. This amount of alcohol consumed in a single evening will: | |
• Cause a decrease in INR • Cause an increase in INR • Does not affect warfarin in any way • Make the patient sick when taking warfarin medication • Don’t know • Skipped question | 7 (15) 26 (55) 3 (6) 1 (2) 10 (21) 8 |
The best time of day to take warfarin is: | |
• At lunchtime • In the evening • In the morning before breakfast • Any time of the day when you remember • Don’t know • Skipped question | 0 (0) 44 (88) 2 (4) 3 (6) 1 (2) 5 |
Once the patient has reached a stable warfarin dose, a PT/INR blood test: | |
• Should be checked once a year • Should be checked once every 3 months • Should be checked at least once every 4 weeks • Does not need to be checked once on a stable warfarin does • Don’t know • Skipped question | 0 (0) 5 (10) 45 (90) 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 |
A patient just remembered that he forgot to take his warfarin medication dose last night. He/She should: | |
• Skip in the dose of warfarin he/she missed • Take the missed warfarin dose right now • Wait and take two doses right now • Take one-half of the missed dose of warfarin right now • Don’t know • Skipped question | 29 (58) 8 (16) 0 (0) 8 (16) 5 (10) 5 |
Once the patient’s warfarin is stopped, how long does it take to get the medication out of his/ her system? | |
• 5 h • 5 days • 5 weeks • 5 months • Don’t know • Skipped question | 1 (2) 38 (76) 2 (4) 0 (0) 9 (18) 5 |
After starting warfarin, how long(in months/years) would you expect the patient to be taking warfarin? | |
• 1 year • 1 month • It depends on each person’s needs • If you start warfarin you will have to be on the medication for the rest of your life • Don’t know • Skipped question | 0 (0) 0 (0) 43 (84) 9 (18) 0 (0) 4 |
Women who are pregnant: | |
• Should not take warfarin • Can safely take warfarin during the second and third trimester • Can take warfarin but only need to take it every others day • Would not need to take warfarin, since being pregnant prevents them from getting blood clots • Don’t know • Skipped question | 24 (48) 6 (12) 0 (0) 0 (0) 20 (40) 5 |