Patient experience of Atrial Fibrillation medications - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study of patient experiences of atrial fibrillation and anti-thrombotic medications
IRAS ID
256194
Contact name
Paul D Bennett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research proposal is concerned with exploring the experiences of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) with focus on the impact of AF on quality of life, how patients cope with AF symptoms, and patient understanding and experience of the anti-coagulant therapy they are receiving. Patients with AF are often at higher risk of clot-provoked strokes and so are often prescribed with either Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (VKAs) or the newer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to reduce this risk. Although associated with increased gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk, DOACs allow for decreased patient monitoring levels, present fewer drug and food interactions, as well as holding a comparable level of stroke prevention than VKAs. The use of DOACs may therefore hold implications for the quality of life of patients, since lifestyle changes and dietary changes in response to the drugs are required less frequently. As DOACs require less frequent monitoring compared to patients receiving VKAs, differences in satisfaction with medication may be seen between the two groups. If so, information gained from the interviews may influence clinician decision making in prescribing the most appropriate treatment for the individual.
People diagnosed with AF within the previous 3 – 24 months will be interviewed individually to talk about their experiences of AF and its drug treatment. Two separate groups of AF patients will be interviewed; those prescribed with VKAs such as warfarin, and those prescribed with newer direct oral anti-coagulants such as rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban and edoxaban. Each patient will be interviewed once and 16 people will be interviewed in total (8 per group or until data saturation is achieved).
The interviews will enhance what is already understood about patient experiences of AF and its treatment. The study has the potential to lead to further work which may help AF patients cope with their diagnosis, their medication, and subsequent quality of life.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
19/WS/0161
Date of REC Opinion
25 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion