Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Improved Time in Therapeutic Range With Patient Self-Testing of Their INR Compared to Usual Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: Patients who receive a mechanical heart valve to replace a diseased heart valve must take an anticoagulation medicine the rest of their lives, and monitor their level of anticoagulation. Until recently, the testing of the level of anticoagulation was performed at medical laboratories or hospitals.

The purpose of this study is to see if patients who test their level of anticoagulation by themselves at home and then call their doctor with the result have better control of their anticoagulation as compared to patients whose anticoagulation is checked only by their physician.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

To be enrolled in this study, patients must:

1. have AF and/or a MHV;
2. be scheduled to receive warfarin indefinitely (operationally defined as 2 years);
3. be using warfarin according to the criteria described in the Coumadin package insert (no off-label uses);
4. be expected to survive for the duration of the study;
5. not be suffering from intracranial bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke) or any other contraindication described in the Coumadin package insert;
6. be willing to perform PST;
7. be willing to be randomized;
8. possess adequate cognitive and language skills to follow the protocol and all related instructions;
9. be willing to participate for the full duration of the study;
10. sign the informed consent form; and
11. not be enrolled in another randomized clinical trial that involves a drug or device intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients are excluded in this study if:

1. subject has had intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, or any other absolute/major contraindication described in the warfarin package insert within the last month
2. subject enrolled in another randomized clinical trial that involves a drug or device intervention
3. subject is not able to follow the protocol and all related instructions, and does not have a caregiver with these skills
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient aged 18 years and over followed at the Montreal Heart Institute's Anticoagulation clinic
* Warfarin treatment planned for at least 4 months after inclusion in the study
* Warfarin treatment initiated for at least 6 months
* Last 2 INRs between 1.5 and 4 if target INR is between 2 and 3
* Last 2 INRS between 2 and 4 if target INR is between 2.5 and 3.5
* Provide a signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient unable to understand (spoken and written) French or English
* Patient refuses or is unable to attend the required training sessions
* Targeted INR other than 2 to 3 or 2.5 to 3.5
* Handicap or physical limitation compromising the patient's ability to initiate self-monitoring in the absence of a proxy helper
* Moderate to severe cognitive impairment or important comprehension problems
* Active neoplasm
* Concurrent chemotherapy
* Hypercoagulable conditions
* Life expectancy of less than 1 year documented in the medical chart
* Inclusion (at time of inclusion or 30 days prior to inclusion) in another research project involving a drug
* Patient anticoagulated with nicoumalone
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Active bleeding (except for menses)
* Recent major bleeding (less than 3 months before inclusion)
* Stroke, acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, cardiac valve replacement, deep veinous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in the 3 months prior to inclusion
* Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, of the treating physician or of the healthcare professionals working at the anticoagulation clinic could make self-management by the patient impossible
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients that received a mechanical valve while in our hospital
* Age \> 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or lactating women
* Patients that have genetic clotting disorders such as Factor 5
* Physical disabilities (for example, poor eyesight, tremor, or other neurological disability) that would prevent the patient from being able to perform finger stick blood sampling. (Patients may not be excluded for physical disabilities if a care giver is willing to learn and assist with performing patient self-testing.)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Over 18 years of age
* Anticoagulation to a target of 2.0-3.0
* Warfarin treatment for \> 3 months
* previous medication treatment adherence
* competence judged by demonstrable ability to utilize drug adjustment nomograms
* understand the basic theory of anticoagulation therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Coagulopathic disease
* significant psychiatric illness
* significant language barrier
* poor visual acuity

Answer: C