The development and delivery of educational materials as part of a randomized clinical trial is explored in the Home-Based Education and Learning Program in Atrial Fibrillation (HELP-AF) study presented Sept. 1 at ESC Congress 2019 and published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

While "education to improve outcomes in chronic illness has long been advocated," Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, et al., note that "limited details" exist about the development and delivery of the education. To that end, they provide a detailed outline of the process used to develop key patient-centric messages and corresponding resources to use with a structured educational visiting approach conducted by trained clinicians.

Specifically, the process included a literature review exploring patient attitudes, knowledge and beliefs about AFib, along with a review of available AFib patient resources. This information was then used to inform the development of key messages by a multidisciplinary team with patient input, as well as subsequent educational materials. According to Sanders and colleagues, all materials were tested during various stages of their creation to make sure they were readable and understandable and modified as needed.

They note that the educational booklet developed for the HELP-AF study "differed from other patient education resources in that figures were designed as graphical aids to support interaction with the patient, and reinforce key messages, underpinned by social marketing principles. The figures were chosen to reflect a broad range of demographics to connect to a wide range of individuals." Once finalized, the educational components were used during two structured educational home visits by either a pharmacist or nurse trained in an "understanding of the patient's values, needs and preferences in order to influence behaviors."

"In the new era of personalized medicine, the HELP-AF intervention … is unique in its approach to education by combining clinical characterization and home-based [structured educational visiting] provided by clinicians, supported by a booklet with actionable steps patients can take to self-manage their condition," the authors write. "The HELP-AF study will provide unique insights into this novel approach to personalized education and empowerment of individuals with AFib."

Four Key Messages For the HELP-AF Intervention:

1. Take AFib medications as prescribed to reduce symptoms and risk of stroke.
2. Stroke-preventing medications can reduce risk of stroke by up to 60-70 percent.
3. Choose a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of AFib becoming more severe and risk of stroke.
4. AFib episodes are not usually medical emergencies. Follow personal action plan during an AFib episode with usual symptoms.

Four additional studies presented during ESC Congress 2019 addressed other breaking research in the AFib field, including use of apixaban in the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism; integrated management of AFib in primary care (ALL-IN Trial); opportunistic AFib screening vs. routine care; and nurse-led integrated care for AFib.

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias

Keywords: ESC 19, ESC Congress, Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke, Primary Health Care

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