Knowledges about herbal products among subjects on warfarin therapy and patient-physician relationship: a pilot study

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to analyse behaviours and patient-physician relationship about phytotherapy among a sample of Italian patients on warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation. METHODS: During a 4-month study period, interviews of patients on warfarin therapy, followed regularly in the medical laboratories to monitor INR values, were conducted on the basis of a pre-structured 25-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Among a study population of 294 patients, 69 subjects reported to have been taking one or more phytotherapic products in the last year in combination with warfarin. Users were mostly in the age group >50 years and had a low level of education. Five out of 69 patients reported side effects, while 16/69 referred an unstable INR value. The majority of our subjects considered phytotherapy useful and without risks. CONCLUSIONS: The present survey highlights the potential risk of confidence with the 'natural world', the lack of discussion on this argument among health care providers and patients on warfarin therapy and the need to monitor strictly the INR value.