OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a more personal anticoagulant treatment follow-up routine involving the use of a personal measurement device along with the new media (e.g. the Internet). DESIGN: A telephone interview. SETTING: The municipality of Ikaalinen with a total population of 7795. SUBJECTS: Forty patients on anticoagulant treatment who have personal responsibility for their treatment follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, data and opinions on anticoagulant treatment and data and opinions on personal health care and the new media. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of the interviewed were generally pleased with the current AC treatment routine in the Ikaalinen area. Sixty-eight percent of the patients feel that they are able to determine the anticoagulant dosage from the follow-up test results and almost a third have independently changed their dosage. Approximately half of the interviewed were willing to take various health-related measurements at home, but approximately only 20% of the interviewed were ready to use health-related services; for example, related to the follow-up of anticoagulant treatment, through the new media. CONCLUSION: Part of the population receiving anticoagulant treatment is ready to move to a more personal treatment routine involving home measurements in follow-up tests. However, most interviewed patients were not interested in using the new media as part of the new routine.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a more personal anticoagulant treatment follow-up routine involving the use of a personal measurement device along with the new media (e.g. the Internet). DESIGN: A telephone interview. SETTING: The municipality of Ikaalinen with a total population of 7795. SUBJECTS: Forty patients on anticoagulant treatment who have personal responsibility for their treatment follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, data and opinions on anticoagulant treatment and data and opinions on personal health care and the new media. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of the interviewed were generally pleased with the current AC treatment routine in the Ikaalinen area. Sixty-eight percent of the patients feel that they are able to determine the anticoagulant dosage from the follow-up test results and almost a third have independently changed their dosage. Approximately half of the interviewed were willing to take various health-related measurements at home, but approximately only 20% of the interviewed were ready to use health-related services; for example, related to the follow-up of anticoagulant treatment, through the new media. CONCLUSION: Part of the population receiving anticoagulant treatment is ready to move to a more personal treatment routine involving home measurements in follow-up tests. However, most interviewed patients were not interested in using the new media as part of the new routine.
Authors: Irma Virjo; Kari Mäkelä; Juhani Aho; Pentti Kalliola; Harri Kurunmäki; Leena Uusitalo; Markku Valli; Suvi Ylinen Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2010-09-07 Impact factor: 2.581