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Updated: Aug 2, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Cardiologists' experiences and perceptions of patient involvement and communication related to shared decision-making
Eleni Siouta1, Ulla Hellström Muhli2, Bjöörn Fossum3
1Karolinska Institutet.
Insights
Cardiologists
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Communication
- Patient Engagement
Background:
- Patient involvement in treatment decisions is crucial for atrial fibrillation (AF) care.
- Supportive communication from cardiologists enhances patient engagement in AF treatment.
- Understanding cardiologists' perspectives on patient involvement is essential for improving care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore cardiologists' descriptions of patient involvement in AF treatment decisions.
- To examine cardiologists' perceptions of communication strategies for shared decision-making in AF care.
- To understand cardiologists' views on current efforts to involve patients in AF treatment decisions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative content analysis of interviews with ten cardiologists.
- Interviews conducted across four Swedish hospitals.
- Exploration of cardiologists' experiences and viewpoints on patient involvement.
Main Results:
- Cardiologists frame patient involvement through ideology, experience, and responsibility.
- Communication and supportive interactions are key elements in fostering patient involvement.
- Perceptions of patient involvement vary based on these three framing factors.
Conclusions:
- Actively encouraging patient involvement and considering their feelings enhances engagement in AF treatment decisions.
- Improving physician-patient communication is vital for meeting legislative goals for patient involvement.
- Optimizing conditions for patient involvement in decision-making can improve treatment compliance.
Objective:
To feel involved in decisions about atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment, patients need supportive communication from cardiologists. Shedding light on cardiologists' perceptions of patient involvement in AF care settings is thus of importance. We examine (1) how cardiologists describe patient involvement and communication related to shared decisionmaking regarding AF treatment, and (2) their perceptions of efforts to involve patients in the treatment decisions.
Methods:
Ten cardiologists were interviewed in four Swedish hospitals. A qualitative content analysis was performed on the interview data.
Results:
Cardiologists' perceptions of patient involvement in treatment decisions are framed in terms of (1) ideology, (2) experience, and (3) responsibility.
Conclusion:
By taking into account patients' feelings in the consultations, and by actively encouraging patients to be involved, the cardiologists contributed to patient involvement.
Practice Implications:
One key to improving compliance with legislation aimed at increasing patient involvement in treatment decisions could lie in paying attention to physician-patient communication and the conditions for patient involvement in decision-making about treatment.
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