Warfarin Therapy at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Warfarin has been the mainstay oral anticoagulant agent for the last several decades despite its narrow therapeutic index. It is critical for health professionals to have better knowledge and understanding on oral anticoagulant management and on how to give counseling for patients on this therapy. This study assessed healthcare professionals’ knowledge and counseling practice on warfarin therapy at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). Methods: Cross sectional study design which included 164 pharmacists and physicians was conducted at TASH by using questionnaire on knowledge and counseling practice about warfarin therapy. The data was analysed with SPSS and the differences between groups were compared using one-way ANOVA followed by tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: Out of 15 questions the mean total score was 9.98 (SD=1.67). Among study participants, there was no one who gave correct answers to all questions. The total score of the overall test were (9.45+1.63) by pharmacists, (10.06+1.49) by interns and (10.35+1.77) by residents. The overall residents score significantly higher (p<0.05) than pharmacists but was not significant (p=0.696) with interns. In their counseling practice, 61.6% and 29.3% of study participants responded as they provide counseling services for all and only for new patients who are on warfarin respectively. In sufficient time and poor counseling environment predominantly affect 54.3% and 32.9% of study participants’ counseling service on warfarin therapy respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge of health care professionals regarding warfarin was inadequate. The study participants had different experience on providing counseling for patients on warfarin.