Clinical Efficiency Analysis of Share Decision Making in the Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Abstract

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) prevalence rate is about 2%-3% worldwide. The risk of stroke in patients with AF is 4 -5 times than normal. It’s important to take oral anticoagulant therapies to prevent stroke.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to estimate whether share decision making (SDM) could lower the anxiety and improve the intension of medical decision or not.

Methods: This was one-group pretest-posttest study design. The study contained 21 patients who had hospitalized following diagnosis and treatment of AF pectoris in Cardiology in the Veterans General Hospital. After using health education, patient filled out the questionnaire. TREND guideline has been adhered to in the reporting of this study.

Results: The anxiety level decrease after the SDM from 2.8 to 1.2 points (p-value<0.05) and the rate of the intension to choose medication increase from 57% to 76%. The promote factors are "After patient understand the disease and treatment, they are ready for consultation (83%)". Medical staff believes that the relevant factors of "System-related difficulties" are "Insufficient time to talk with patient (45%)".

Conclusion: Both medical staff and patients have positive feedback and statistically significant differences in affecting the patient's medical willingness and reducing patient anxiety in SDM. It is important to help patients to think and evaluate carefully through SDM and determine the most appropriate treatment.