EQUAL-AF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating QUAlity of Life of AF patients following a bleed (EQUAL-AF).
IRAS ID
279646
Contact name
Sherrill Snelgrove
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an unusual heart rhythm which in some people can lead to an AF-stroke. AF is common and many factors can increase the risk of developing it. There are several ways which AF can be managed, including treatment to reset the heartbeat to a normal rhythm. Doctors may also give patients medicine called anticoagulants (blood thinners), to help prevent blood cells clumping together to make blood clots, reducing the chance of having an AF-stroke. A major side effect of taking anticoagulants is bleeding which does not stop easily and is bothersome for someone with AF. There is not enough research into the effect of bleeding on a patient’s health and welfare
Researchers will engage with AF patients to understand what living with the condition is like. Information will be gathered from AF patients, who have recently had a bleed while anticoagulated, from GP clinics, hospital wards and AF support groups. Patients will be asked to give contact details and basic health details. As there are no questionnaires available which look at how bleeding events affect health and well-being, the study will use other existing, good quality questionnaires concerning general issues patients with AF experience. All patients will be asked to complete three questionnaires at two points in the study; no more than four weeks after the bleed event and then three months later. The questionnaires take 20-30 minutes to complete and can be filled in on a tablet like an iPad, or on paper. Ten patients will be contacted after the 3-month questionnaires are complete and asked more bleeding related questions, during a semi-structured interview.
The study will increase awareness of how patients with AF feel bleeding affects their quality of life and to inform larger-scale research on the impact of bothersome bleeding for AF patients.Summary of Results
We recruited 32 participants to the study- 14 from primary care and 18 through the AF forum. No participants were recruited through secondary care. Despite 32 participants consenting, only 26 initial surveys were completed. We received follow-up surveys from 11 participants (8 primary care and 3 AF forum). COVID-19 had a major impact on the study.
Primary care was the most successful route for recruitment. Most participants recruited to the study experienced a minor bleed. Further ways to recruit in secondary care should be explored, especially to capture more serious bleeds.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0479
Date of REC Opinion
28 Sep 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion