Barriers to self-monitoring implementation in the oral anticoagulated population: A qualitative study

Aim: This study aimed to explore and understand the barriers perceived by Italian nurses to adopting self-monitoring for managing oral anticoagulation in real-life settings. Background: Barriers to self-monitoring implementation for managing oral anticoagulation have been poorly described. Design: The study had a qualitative descriptive and exploratory design with a hybrid approach. Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify a priori barriers (deductive approach), while a small and semi-structured focus group discussion was performed to explore the contextual barriers experienced by Italian nurses (inductive approach). A classic content analysis technique was adopted. Data were collected in 2019. Findings: Two main categories were identified. Organizational barriers referred to the lack of inter-professional collaboration and health-care system strategies to provide clinical pathways for self-monitoring. Individual barriers encompassed professional characteristics (e.g. university background, professional knowledge, continuum education and accountability/responsibility) and patient characteristics (e.g. patient health literacy and knowledge, engagement/empowerment and educational programmes). Finally, unwarranted clinical variation in oral anticoagulation management arose as a barrier determined by organizational and individual elements. Conclusions: The results of this study pointed out an urgent public health issue in addressing barriers influencing self-monitoring practice and in sustaining care models that might enhance the quality improvement of self-monitoring for managing oral anticoagulation.