| Methods |
open‐label RCT (randomized by patient) |
| Participants |
home‐based follow‐up of patients discharged from Royal Hobart acute care teaching hospital in southern Tasmania, Australia
patients ‐ 128 (60 intervention, 68 control)
health professional (delivering intervention) ‐ 1
practice ‐ 1
no unit of analysis error |
| Interventions |
targeted towards PATIENTS
pharmacist conducted home‐visit to test INR and educate patients regarding anticoagulant therapy using printed educational materials
targeted towards HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
pharmacist informed physicians regarding patients' INR, recommended dosage adjustments and implemented therapy changes vs usual care
length of the intervention ‐ 24 min
number of interventions ‐ 4 during 90 days |
| Outcomes |
PATIENT
therapeutic INR as defined by ACCP on day 8 after‐discharge
total, major, and minor bleeding complications within 90 days of discharge |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
Patients were home‐based; allocation was likely adequately concealed |
| Blinding?
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Objective outcomes assessed |
| Follow‐up of professionals? |
Low risk |
Not applicable |
| Follow‐up of patients? |
Low risk |
127 of the 131 patients completed the study |
| Baseline measurement? |
High risk |
"The two groups were well matched with regard to baseline demographics. There was a significantly higher incidence of previous myocardial infarction in the intervention group compared to the control group" |
| Reliable outcome measures? |
Low risk |
Objective outcomes assessed |
| Protection against contamination? |
Low risk |
Patients were home‐based, contamination unlikely |
