Educating orally anticoagulated patients in drug safety: a cluster-randomized study in general practice.

Background: Orally anticoagulated patients with insufficient knowledge about their treatment have a higher risk of complications. Standardized patient education could raise their level of knowledge and improve time spent within target INR range.

Methods: This cluster randomized trial included 319 anticoagulated patients drawn from 22 general medical practices.

Safety relevant knowledge of orally anticoagulated patients without self-monitoring: a baseline survey in primary care.

Background: Effective and safe management of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) requires a high level of patient knowledge and adherence. The aim of this study was to assess patient knowledge about OAT and factors associated with patient knowledge.

Methods: This is a baseline survey of a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 22 general practices with an educational intervention for patients or their caregivers.

Practice nursed-based, individual and video-assisted patient education in oral anticoagulation--protocol of a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Managing oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) is a challenge for patients and primary care providers. It requires a high level of patient knowledge and adherence. Studies have shown that insufficient adherence and a low level of patient knowledge about OAT are primary causes for complications.

Effect of interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms on clinical outcome of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an exploratory study.

Purpose: Current chemotherapy can achieve high response rates in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but the factors that influence regression and survival remain unknown. The present exploratory study tested the hypothesis whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphisms predict clinical outcome, leukocytopenia, or infectivity during therapy. IL-10 was chosen because immune alterations are a major risk factor for NHL, and IL-10 is a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes associated with clinical outcome.