Disease-Related Knowledge and Need for Revision of Care for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Cross Sectional Study

• Main Authors: Erlingsdottir HY, Ketilsdottir A, Hendriks JM, Ingadottir B
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2023
• Subjects: atrial fibrillation; health literacy; patient education; patient knowledge; self-care; Medicine (General); R5-920; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/40c0b4e82db54c91825406877058f504

Helga Yr Erlingsdottir,1,2 Audur Ketilsdottir,1,2 Jeroen M Hendriks,3,4 Brynja Ingadottir1,5 1Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; 2Cardio-Vascular and Cancer Center, Landspitali – The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; 3Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 4Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 5Office of Chief Nursing Officer, Landspitali – The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, IcelandCorrespondence: Helga Yr Erlingsdottir, Cardio-Vascular and Cancer Center, Landspitali – The National University Hospital of Iceland, Hringbraut, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland, Tel [phone], Email [e-mail]: To evaluate the disease-related knowledge of outpatients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and the relationship with health literacy and other background variables.Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study, conducted in Iceland, patients with AF scheduled for an electrical cardioversion or AF catheter ablation were recruited from a hospital outpatient clinic. They completed the validated Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge Scale (AFKS), a 11-item instrument (with possible score 0– 10, 10 being the best knowledge) which evaluates knowledge pertaining to AF in general, AF symptom detection and AF treatment. Health literacy was assessed with the 16 item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q) and patients answered questions about their background. Data was analysed with parametric tests.Results: In total, 185 participants completed the questionnaire (mean age 63 ± 10), 77% were male, 74% with previous electrical cardioversion and 76% were on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) medication. The mean score on the AFKS was 6.5 (± 1.8). The best knowledge was concerning oral anticoagulation therapy (96% answered ...