TY - JOUR T1 - Patient self-testing and self-management of anticoagulation is safe and patients are satisfied with these programmes JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs SP - 110 LP - 111 DO - 10.1136/eb-2017-102749 VL - 20 IS - 4 AU - Caleb Ferguson AU - Fahad Shaikh AU - Beata Bajorek Y1 - 2017/10/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/4/110.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Grogan A, Coughlan M, Prizeman G, et al. The patients’ perspective of international normalized ratio self-testing, remote communication of test results and confidence to move to self-management. J Clin Nurs 2017. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13767. [Epub ahead of print: 23 Feb 2017].Patient self-testing and self-management programmes that augment education and telehealth approaches present a safe, sustainable and acceptable model of care for individuals with routine anticoagulation monitoring and management needs.There is need for further research of patient self-testing and self-management programmes that addresses patient selection and building patient confidence.Warfarin remains a key agent for thromboprophylaxis. However, it is not without complications. A narrow therapeutic range translates to a fine balance between thrombosis and bleeding. Given warfarin’s sometimes unpredictable nature, achieving quality anticoagulation can be challenging. Regular monitoring and careful titration of therapy are required in accordance with a patient’s international normalised ratio (INR). For the majority of patients, this means visits for regular venous blood sampling which can be costly, inconvenient and impact on a patient’s quality of life. Evidence suggests that patient … ER -