Feasibility Testing of the Alert for AFib Intervention

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure.
• Early detection and treatment of AF are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Current strategies for identifying and managing AF require improvement, especially in at-risk populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for the Alert for AFib intervention.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding treatment-seeking for AF symptoms.
• To determine if the intervention is suitable for a larger effectiveness trial.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with adults aged 65 and older at risk for AF.
• Participants were assigned to either the Alert for AFib intervention group (n=40) or an attention control group (n=40).
• Feasibility metrics including recruitment, retention, adherence, satisfaction, burden, and fidelity were assessed.

Main Results:

• Feasibility goals for the RCT were successfully met.
• The Alert for AFib intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in knowledge (p = .005) and attitudes (p < .001) towards treatment-seeking compared to the control group.
• These findings indicate positive preliminary effects of the intervention.

Conclusions:

• The Alert for AFib intervention is a feasible and potentially effective tool for improving AF awareness and treatment-seeking behaviors in older adults.
• The positive feasibility and preliminary results support the progression to a larger, definitive trial to confirm effectiveness.
• This intervention holds promise for enhancing early detection and management of atrial fibrillation.