TITLE:
Efficacy of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) in Reducing Total Waiting Time at Warfarin Clinic of a District Hospital: A Cohort Study
AUTHORS:
Ganesh Kasinathan, Shakirin Pairan, Sirajudeen Rowther, Sharifah Sulaiman, Siti A. Basimin, Norazema Samsuni, Vidhubala Balasegar
KEYWORDS:
Warfarin, Doctors, Testing, Hospital, Waiting Time
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.3 No.2,
February
24,
2016
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: This study was chosen due to long waiting time at various
stages before doctors/ pharmacists saw patients at warfarin clinic. Objectives:
The objectives are to identify stages contributing to waiting time and to
assess efficacy of point-of-care testing (POCT) in reducing waiting time at
warfarin clinic. Methodology: This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 (pre
intervention) consisted of 171 patients attending warfarin clinic over three weeks
(06/04/2015-27/ 04/2015). Phase 2 (post intervention) consisted of 148 patients
(26/10/2014-09/11/2015). Patients with rejected INR samples and multiple
clinics on the same day were excluded. Data were analysed using SPSS 17. Results/Discussion:
171 patients were recruited in phase 1. 67.3% (115) Malays, 22.8% (39) Chinese,
9.4% (16) Indians and 0.6% (1) others. The mean age was 62.8 years. 54.4% (93) were
males compared to 45.6% (78) females. Significant waiting
time was from arrival of patient at venepuncture to blood taking which was 38.3
minutes ± 19.3, p