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Development and validation of a decision aid for choosing among antithrombotic agents for atrial fibrillation

Safoora Fatima1, Anne Holbrook2, Sam Schulman3

  • 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Thrombosis Research
|July 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

This study validated a decision aid for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients choosing antithrombotic agents. The tool improved patient confidence and knowledge regarding stroke prevention medications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Health Informatics

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) necessitates stroke prevention using various antithrombotic agents.
  • Patient decision-making can be complex due to multiple treatment options.
  • Decision aids can support informed choices for patients with AF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate a decision aid for patients selecting antithrombotic therapies for AF.
  • To assess the aid's impact on patient confidence, knowledge, and understanding of treatment options.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving patients aged 60 years or older.
  • Decision aid presented information on AF, aspirin, warfarin, and direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
  • Primary outcome: decisional conflict; Secondary outcomes: knowledge, clarity, helpfulness, and comprehensiveness ratings.

Main Results:

  • Eighty-one patients participated; mean age 75.2 years.
  • Decision aid use resulted in low decisional conflict (7.2/100).
  • Significant improvement in knowledge scores (7.4 to 9.3/10) and high ratings for helpfulness, clarity, and comprehensiveness.

Conclusions:

  • The validated decision aid enhances patient participation in shared decision-making for AF anticoagulation.
  • Addresses a critical gap in medication safety for AF patients.
  • Further research needed to assess the impact of decision aids on clinical choices and outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
AnticoagulantsAntithrombotic agentsAtrial fibrillationDecision aidsPatient educationValidation studies

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