Hall Angela, Mitchell Andrew Robert John, Ashmore Lisa, Holland Carol
Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist Department of Cardiology, Jersey General Hospital, Gloucester Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE1 3QS.
Consultant Cardiologist Department of Cardiology, Jersey General Hospital, Gloucester Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE1 3QS.
Br J Cardiol. 2022 Nov 29;29(4):38. doi: 10.5837/bjc.2022.038. eCollection 2022.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes are increasingly prevalent worldwide, both increasing stroke risk. AF can be detected by patient-led electrocardiogram (ECG) screening applications. Understanding patients' views around AF screening is important when considering recommendations, and this study explores these views where there is an existing diagnosis of diabetes. Nine semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from a previous screening study (using a mobile ECG device), who were identified with AF. Thematic analysis was completed using NVivo 12 Plus software and themes were identified within each research question for clarity. Themes were identified in four groups: 1. patients' understanding of AF - the 'concept of irregularity' and 'consideration of consequence'; 2. views on screening - 'screening as a resource-intensive initiative', 'fear of outcomes from screening' and 'expectations of screening reliability'; 3. views on incorporating screening into routine care - 'importance of screening convenience'; and 4. views on the screening tool - 'technology as a barrier' and 'feasibility of the mobile ECG recording device for screening'. In conclusion, eliciting patients' views has demonstrated the need for clear and concise information around the delivery of an AF diagnosis. Screening initiatives should factor in location, convenience, personnel, and cost, all of which were important for promoting screening inclusion.
心房颤动（AF）和糖尿病在全球范围内日益普遍，两者都会增加中风风险。房颤可以通过患者主导的心电图（ECG）筛查应用程序检测出来。在考虑相关建议时，了解患者对房颤筛查的看法很重要，本研究探讨了在已有糖尿病诊断的情况下患者的这些看法。对先前一项筛查研究（使用移动心电图设备）中被确诊为房颤的参与者进行了9次半结构化定性访谈。使用NVivo 12 Plus软件完成了主题分析，并在每个研究问题中确定了主题以使其清晰明了。主题分为四组：1. 患者对房颤的理解——“不规则的概念”和“对后果的考虑”；2. 对筛查的看法——“筛查是一项资源密集型举措”、“对筛查结果的恐惧”和“对筛查可靠性的期望”；3. 对将筛查纳入常规护理的看法——“筛查便利性的重要性”；4. 对筛查工具的看法——“技术作为障碍”和“移动心电图记录设备用于筛查的可行性”。总之，征求患者的意见表明，在提供房颤诊断时需要清晰简洁的信息。筛查举措应考虑地点、便利性、人员和成本，所有这些对于促进筛查的纳入都很重要。
