The Effect of Switching From Warfarin to Novel Oral Anticoagulants on Patients' Satisfaction and the Travel Burden in a Rural Setting.

Introduction: New oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have shown comparable efficacy to warfarin in the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF). Various studies on quality-of-life improvement in rural patients following the switch from vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) to NOACs have produced inconclusive results. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of switching from warfarin to NOACs on remotely living patients' quality of life and the burden of travel.