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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
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Published on: February 28, 2012

Supporting Treatment decision making to Optimise the Prevention of STROKE in Atrial Fibrillation: the STOP STROKE in

Melina Gattellari1, John M Worthington, Dominic Y Leung

  • 1Ingham Institute, Liverpool, Australia.

Implementation Science : IS
|July 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study tested a distance education program to increase anticoagulation use for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The intervention aims to reduce strokes by improving guideline-adherent prescribing in primary care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Suboptimal anticoagulation uptake for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a persistent challenge for over two decades.
  • Despite strong evidence, effective treatments are underutilized, leading to preventable strokes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a distance education intervention designed to improve oral anticoagulation uptake in primary care for patients with atrial fibrillation.
  • To assess the effectiveness of augmenting academic detailing with expert feedback in enhancing anticoagulation prescribing.

Main Methods:

  • A national, cluster-randomised controlled trial (STOP STROKE in AF study) involving Australian general practitioners.
  • Intervention includes mailed educational materials, telephone-based peer academic detailing, and randomized specialist feedback timing (pre- or post-audit).
  • Primary outcome: proportion of AF patients receiving oral anticoagulation at three-month posttest audit.

Main Results:

  • The study is designed to measure the impact of the intervention on anticoagulation prescribing rates.
  • Data collection focuses on the primary outcome: the proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulation.
  • Secondary analyses will assess the effectiveness of the augmented academic detailing approach.

Conclusions:

  • The STOP STROKE in AF study evaluates a feasible distance education intervention to prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation patients.
  • The trial systematically tests the benefit of expert feedback combined with academic detailing for improving anticoagulation management.
Abstract

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