Effect of a virtual self-management intervention for atrial fibrillation during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
; 44(3): 451-461, 2021 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1075890
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
As the pandemic continues to unfold, effective, technology-based solutions are needed to help patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) maintain their health and well-being during the outbreak of COVID-19.METHODS:
This single-center, pilot study investigated the effects of a 4-week (eight sessions) virtual AF self-management program. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and 1 week after the intervention, and assessed AF knowledge, adherence to self-management behaviors, mental health, physical function, and disease-specific quality of life in patients with AF. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of COVID-19, intervention, acceptability, and satisfaction.RESULTS:
Of 68 patients who completed baseline questionnaires, 57 participated in the intervention and were included in the analysis (mean age of 73.4 ± 10.0 years, 60% male). Adherence to AF self-monitoring behaviors, including monitoring their heart rate (p < .001), heart rhythm (p = .003), and blood pressure (p = .013) were significantly improved at the end of the intervention compared with baseline. Symptom identification (p = .007) and management (p < .001) also improved. Reductions in sleep disturbance (p < .001), anxiety (p = .014), and depression (p = .046) were also observed. Misinformation and inaccurate beliefs about COVID-19 were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention compared with baseline.CONCLUSIONS:
This pilot study suggests that a virtual patient education program could have beneficial effects on adherence to guideline-recommend self-care of AF, emotional wellbeing, physical function, and knowledge of COVID-19 in patients with AF. Future randomized studies in larger samples are needed to determine the clinical benefits of the intervention.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Atrial Fibrillation
/
Telemedicine
/
Self-Management
/
COVID-19
/
Home Care Services
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Pace.14188
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