Initial Psychometric Testing of the Knowledge About Atrial Fibrillation and Self-Management Survey

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Education
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Patient education for atrial fibrillation (AF) self-management is crucial for mitigating adverse events and reducing patient burden.
• Existing interventions lack validated instruments to measure learning outcomes effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial psychometric testing of the Knowledge about Atrial Fibrillation and Self-Management (KAFSM) survey.
• To establish a reliable tool for assessing patient knowledge and self-management skills in AF.

Main Methods:

• The KAFSM survey was administered to 383 participants from medical centers in the midwest and southeast.
• Content validity was assessed by expert review, and construct validity was evaluated using convergent and known-groups validity tests.
• Internal consistency reliability was determined using the Kuder-Richardson procedure, and factor analysis was performed.

Main Results:

• The KAFSM survey achieved a content validity index of 0.86 and demonstrated convergent validity (r = 0.60).
• Known-groups validity was supported by significantly higher scores in patients who underwent AF ablation compared to those recently diagnosed.
• Factor analysis indicated a single-factor structure, and the Kuder-Richardson coefficient was 0.86.

Conclusions:

• The KAFSM survey exhibits strong content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency reliability.
• This validated instrument can now be implemented in clinical settings to evaluate the effectiveness of AF patient education programs.
• The KAFSM survey will facilitate the assessment of learning outcomes, supporting improved AF self-management strategies.