APPENDIX 1. Survey with 18 Questions and Correct Answers
DEMOGRAPHICS
1. What is your profession (check off all that apply)?
Resident/Fellow
Family physician
Internist
Emergency physician
Cardiologist
Hematologist
Thrombosis medicine specialist
Registered nurse
Nurse practitioner
Registered practical nurse
Pharmacist
Other______
2. How many years have you been in practice? (Or if you are a resident/fellow, what year of training are you in?) ______
3. What setting do you primarily work in?
Outpatient
Inpatient
Does not apply
INDICATIONS FOR ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS
For each of the questions below, select all that apply.
4. Which of the following drugs is Health Canada approved for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation? (Please select all that apply or all of the above)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
All of the above
Correct Answer: all of the above
5. Which of the following drugs is Health Canada approved for prevention of venous thrombosis? (Please select all that apply or all of the above)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana ®)
All of the above
Correct Answer: all of the above
6. Which of the following drugs is Health Canada approved for treatment of venous thromboembolism (DVT and/or PE)? (Please select all that apply or all of the above)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
All of the above
Do not know
Correct Answer: all of the above
7. Which of the following is a Health Canada approved indication to use direct oral anticoagulants? (Please select all that apply)
Mechanical aortic valve
Mechanical mitral valve
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
None of the above
Do not know
Correct Answer: none of the above
DOSE ADJUSTMENT OF ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS
8. Do you adjust the dose of this drug for patients with atrial fibrillation based on renal function? (Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answers: all except warfarin
9. Do you adjust the dose of this drug for patients with atrial fibrillation based on age? (Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answers: apixaban and dabigatran
PRACTICAL USE OF ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS
10. Which of these drugs should not be removed from its original package and put in a dosette (Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answer: dabigatran
11. Which of these drugs should not be crushed before ingestion (Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answer: dabigatran
12. Which of these drugs must be taken with meals (Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answer: rivaroxaban
13. Which of these drugs can be reversed using prothrombin complex concentrate / PCC(Please select all that apply)
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answers: all except dabigatran
14. Which of these drugs has a Health Canada approved antidote (Please select all that apply)?
Warfarin / Coumadin
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
Edoxaban (Lixiana®)
Do not know
Correct Answers: warfarin and dabigatran
COUNSELING PATIENTS ABOUT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS
15. How often do you prescribe or dispense oral anticoagulants (including warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants)?
<5 times per month
5-10 times per month
10-20 times per month
>20 times per month
Never
16. What do you counsel patients about when you prescribe or dispense oral anticoagulants? (Please select all that apply)
Indication (e.g.,why they are taking it)
Administration (e.g., how often, what dose, take with/without meals)
Bleeding side effects
Reversal in case of bleeding or urgent surgery
Drug interactions
Food interactions
Ways to improve adherence (e.g. alarms, dosettes)
17. How comfortable do you feel about prescribing oral anticoagulants to patients?
Very uncomfortable
Uncomfortable
Comfortable
Very comfortable
18. If you feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable, what factors contribute to this?
Lack of knowledge about appropriate dosing or administration
Lack of knowledge about appropriate indications
Lack of knowledge about interaction with other drugs
Challenges with dose adjustments required for renal impairment
Challenges with reversal/antidotes
Risk of bleeding
Other______