These resources are designed to support all clinicians who communicate with patients prescribed warfarin  or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), formerly known as novel  oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The resources may be especially useful for those patients with reduced cognition or those who have aphasia. They are presented in the form of powerpoint slides, which can be used together or individually, in hard copy or electronically, to support conversations with patients about safe use of oral anticoagulants.

The need for a resource was identified as a result of a Medicines Use and Safety learning event where anticoagulation and stroke pharmacists worked with speech and language therapists to modify existing support literature for patients prescribed warfarin to a format more suitable for patients with aphasia. Further refinements were undertaken as a collaborative effort between stroke pharmacists, expert anticoagulation pharmacists, speech therapists, aphasia communication specialists and patients. The resulting powerpoint presentation to support warfarin  consultations was modified by Satinder Bhandal, Consultant Anticoagulation Pharmacist  At Buckinghamshire Hospitals Trust. Additional presentations for DOACs have been added, with the latest update to all presentations being April 2018.