Can nurses help improve self-care of patients living with atrial fibrillation? A focus group study exploring patients' disease knowledge gaps.
Tammy R Toscos, Amanda Coupe, Shauna Wagner and 5 others
PMID 32587718WHAT IT FOUND
AF patients and support persons wanted clearer, consistent education about stroke risk, symptoms, diet, activity and anticoagulants.
They preferred trusted providers, information at diagnosis and follow-up, and delivery by paper, phone or portal.
Key findings
01Patients had AF knowledge gaps, with seven questions missed by 50%-100%.
02Patients and support persons valued trusted providers, including nurses and doctors, and wanted clearly presented material.
03Participants said timing mattered, with some wanting detailed information at diagnosis and others wanting follow-up after adjusting.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 17 people from one cardiology practice, and most were white and over 65, so it may not reflect broader AF populations. One focus group had only three participants, and the authors did not calculate inter-rater reliability for coding. The AF knowledge questionnaire was not highly reliable, and some questions may have been confusing. The paper describes patients' views and survey scores; it does not test whether nurse education improves knowledge, adherence or outcomes.
Declared interests
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funded the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that nurses can improve self-care or adherence. The study asked 17 patients and support persons about knowledge gaps and education preferences; it did not test an intervention.