Since September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, this month’s blog post comes from our guest bloggers, Jessiciah Windfelder, LeeAnn Spencer and Paulina Gudgell, advance practice nurses who help increase patients' awareness every day.

As practicing electrophysiologists, many of us diagnose and treat hundreds of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients each year. We understand the physiology of the disease, but how much do we really know about its impact on patients’ experiences? What else can we be doing to improve their quality of life?

These questions came to mind after reading two eye-opening articles by Mellanie True Hills, CEO of StopAfib.org, in EP Lab Digest. The first article talked about the “Grand Canyon” communication gap that often exists between physicians and AF patients. The second article presented the patient’s perspective on AF, noting that the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing recently reported that “clinicians may minimize the impact of AF on quality of life, and thus not provide information and support.”1

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, which reminds us that we need to be acutely aware of how our attitudes and communication skills affect the patients’ experiences and the quality of their lives. For starters, we should recognize and acknowledge the full extent of the patient’s emotional as well as physical hardships. For many patients, we might need to speak more slowly – without medical jargon – to make sure they receive and understand our messages.

Physicians should also play a major role in educating patients about AF, since many patients are often unaware of the serious implications of their condition, particularly in regards to stroke risk. (People with AF are 2-7 times more likely to suffer a stroke than the general population.) Physicians should remind patients of lifestyle risks such as smoking, which, according to a recent study in Heart Rhythm, doubles the risk of developing AF in comparison to non-smokers. For those seeking more information, you also can suggest reputable online resources such as StopAfib.org to learn more about their disease.

I’ll leave the last word on this topic to Mellanie, an AF survivor who has spoken several times on behalf of CARMA to physicians, patients and the general public: “A little information and empathy can go a long way. When healthcare professionals have an appreciation of what it’s like to live with AF, they can provide better treatment.”

Nassir F. Marrouche, MD is the Executive Director of the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research & Management Center, Director of Electrophysiology Laboratories, and Director of the Atrial Fibrillation Program at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology.

Reference
1. McCabe PJ, Schumacher K, Barnason SA. Living with atrial fibrillation: A qualitative study. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2011;26:336–344.