CompletedNot Applicable

The Effect of Nurse Practitioner Led-Care on Quality of Life in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Canada150 participantsStarted 2016-07-31

Plain-language summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disease characterized by an irregular heart rhythm of the top part (atria) of the heart. It may cause unpleasant symptoms as well as increases the person's risk of stroke and heart failure. With an ageing population, increasing rates of AF and limited access to specialists, new methods of care, like nurse practitioners (NP) need to be assessed to meet patient specific needs and provide sustainable care. The objective of the project is to evaluate the effect of Nurse Practitioner-led care in people with AF on their quality of life. The Canadian Healthcare system is overwhelmed, with increasing costs and wait times. Contributing to these issues, is AF is the most common arrhythmia accompanied with costly complications including stroke and heart failure. Currently family or emergency room physicians ask general cardiologists or specialized cardiologists, to provide care to patients with AF. Unfortunately, there is limited access to their services. NP's are nurses who have taken extra education at University to treat patients and prescribe medications. This research project involves an NP who has specialized training in AF patient management. By utilizing an NP to provide care for patients with AF, the investigators hope to improve patient's quality of life and satisfaction with care. This may also reduce complications of AF.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years or older * Documented non valvular atrial fibrillation * Able to provide informed consent * Able and willing to complete the study questionnaires on own or with assistance Exclusion Criteria: * Referral is for atrioventricular node ablation or pulmonary vein isolation. * Patients who have failed antiarrhythmic medications * Patients with moderate to severe mitral or aortic valvular heart disease * Clinically unstable atrial fibrillation * Cannot or unwilling to attend follow-up appointments

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Difference in change in Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality of Life (AFEQT) scores between groups

Timeframe: At 6 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02745236

SponsorUniversity of Alberta

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2020-09-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Atrial Fibrillation trials