Assessment of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge About Warfarin-Vitamin K Drug-Nutrient Interactions

Abstract

Although the healthcare professionals surveyed in this study appear to have demonstrated some proficiency in their respective areas of expertise, they exhibited less knowledge in others. Therefore, additional training and integration of knowledge and expertise about drug-nutrient interactions among healthcare professionals are essential to provide appropriate patient counseling and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Counseling Practice on Warfarin Therapy at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…Previous studies reported that as there was knowledge gap of the healthcare team with regard to warfarin-nutrient interactions which can lead to disruption in anticoagulant outcomes [8,24,25]. The finding of our study also showed that only 75.6% of the respondents answered correctly on the effect of taking large amount of leafy green vegetables (which are enrich with vitamin K), on warfarin.…”

“…Effective anticoagulation therapy requires systematic and coordinated patient care management by trained anticoagulation therapy providers [12]. Most healthcare providers are confident that they are well skilled in the practical aspects of management [13] but the literature suggests that many undesirable effects of therapy result from inappropriate management rather than patient non-compliance or other aberrations [8,13]. Other study also justified the inadequacy of antimicrobial warfarin interaction knowledge as it showed high incidence of co-prescribing, which carry excess bleeding risk [14].…”

“…Deficiencies in the knowledge of warfarin-food and drug interactions could result in inappropriate patient counseling, disruptions in warfarin anticoagulant outcomes that may result in bleeds or clots and adverse medical consequences [7,8]. Thus, it is critical for health professionals to have better knowledge and understanding on oral anticoagulant management, warfarin monitoring parameters and its' interaction and in case an anticoagulated patient presents for an emergency medical treatment [9].…”

Survey of adherence to time standards to prevent food and drug interaction in the hospitalized patients

“…Aman et al, conducted studies on "Food and Drug Interactions in Pakistan in 2010 " and their results indicated that accurate compliance with medication consumption standards was required [11]. In their study in the United States, Couris Rebecca et al found that the nurses' knowledge of food and drug interactions was not sufficient [12]. In a study entitled "knowledge and awareness of food and drug interactions among health care professionals", Benni et al showed that health care providers (novice physicians and interns) had lower awareness of food and drug interactions [13].…”

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs; Perception, Practice, Facts and Knowledge of Healthcare Professionals in Identification and Management of Interactions

“…[8][9][10] Patients that are prescribed medication with narrow therapeutic range need to be monitored closely for prime care, treatment and for minimising any possible drug-food or drug-drug interactions. So in these circumstances the healthcare professionals play important role.…”