Taggar, Jaspal, Coleman, Tim, Lewis, Sarah and Jones, Matthew
(2016)
Screening for atrial fibrillation – a cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals in primary care.
PLoS ONE, 11
(4).
e0152086/1-http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152086/14.
ISSN 1932-6203
Abstract
Introduction:
Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in primary care has been recommended; however, the views of healthcare professionals (HCPs) are not known. This study aimed to determine the opinions of HCP about the feasibility of implementing screening within a primary care setting.
Methods:
A cross-sectional mixed methods census survey of 418 HCPs from 59 inner-city practices (Nottingham, UK) was conducted between October-December 2014. Postal and web-surveys ascertained data on existing methods, knowledge, skills, attitudes, barriers and facilitators to AF screening using Likert scale and open-ended questions. Responses, categorized according to HCP group, were summarized using proportions, adjusting for clustering by practice, with 95% C.Is and free-text responses using thematic analysis.
Results:
At least one General Practitioner (GP) responded from 48 (81%) practices. There were 212/418 (51%) respondents; 118/229 GPs, 67/129 nurses [50 practice nurses; 17 Nurse Practitioners (NPs)], 27/60 healthcare assistants (HCAs). 39/48 (81%) practices had an ECG machine and diagnosed AF in-house. Non-GP HCPs reported having less knowledge about ECG interpretation, diagnosing and treating AF than GPs. A greater proportion of non-GP HCPs reported they would benefit from ECG training specifically for AF diagnosis than GPs [proportion (95% CI) GPs: 11.9% (6.8–20.0); HCAs: 37.0% (21.7–55.5); nurses: 44.0% (30.0–59.0); NPs 41.2% (21.9–63.7)]. Barriers included time, workload and capacity to undertake screening activities, although training to diagnose and manage AF was a required facilitator.
Conclusion:
Inner-city general practices were found to have adequate access to resources for AF screening. There is enthusiasm by non-GP HCPs to up-skill in the diagnosis and management of AF and they may have a role in future AF screening. However, organisational barriers, such as lack of time, staff and capacity, should be overcome for AF screening to be feasibly implemented within primary care.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Atrial Fibrillation, Healthcare Professionals, Primary Care |
| Schools/Departments: |
University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Primary Care
University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Epidemiology and Public Health |
| Identification Number: |
10.1371/journal.pone.0152086 |
| Related URLs: |
|
| Depositing User: |
McCambridge, Mrs April
|
| Date Deposited: |
11 Apr 2016 07:42 |
| Last Modified: |
08 May 2020 10:30 |
| URI: |
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/32710 |
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