CoaguChek® is a portable coagulometer that provides INR results in less than one minute from a single drop of blood taken from the tip of the finger. Its accuracy has been demonstrated but quality of life of self-testing adult patients has been poorly investigated.

To evaluate change of self-confidence and quality of life of patients using self-testing INR.

A follow-up questionnaire was sent (postmail or e-mail) to each patient 6 months after a collective educational session focused on anticoagulant treatment management and CoaguChek® training. Patients were asked to evaluate their quality of life since the beginning of coagulation self-testing (huge improvement, great improvement, moderate improvement, no improvement). A numeric analog scale (0–10) evaluated self-confidence and impact of the cardiac disease at the time of education and in the follow-up.

70 patients answered the questionnaire (76%). Huge or great improvement was frequent (31,4%; 52,9% respectively). Self-confidence improved (6,10; 7,23; P<0,01) and impact of cardiac disease lowered (8,10; 7,55; P=0,058) (Fig. 1).

Therapeutic education for patients with mechanical cardiac valve taking anticoagulation treatment combined with a training session to learn how to use the CoaguChek® is essential. Beyond safety goals, education, training and use of coagulation self-testing improves self-confidence of patients and lowers the impact of the cardiac disease.