The Symptom Experience of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Before Their Initial Diagnosis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of dysrhythmia, steadily increases in prevalence with age. If left untreated, AF significantly increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. Despite the increasing prevalence, there are significant research gaps in the prediagnosis symptom experiences of patients with AF.

Atrial fibrillation care in rural communities: a mixed methods study of physician and patient perspectives.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a serious heart arrhythmia associated with devastating outcomes such as stroke. Inequitable rural AF care may put patients at risk. Virtually delivered specialty AF care offers a viable option, but stakeholder perceptions of this option within the context of rural AF care is unknown.

The efficacy of telehealth delivered educational approaches for patients with chronic diseases: A systematic review.

Objective: The virtual delivery of patient education and other forms of telehealth have been proposed as alternatives to providing needed care for patients with chronic diseases. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the efficacy of virtual education delivery on patient outcomes compared with usual care.

Methods: The review examined citations from 3 databases, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE using the search words telehealth, chronic disease, patient education, and related concepts.

Planning Telehealth for Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation in Rural Communities: Understanding Stakeholder Perspectives.

Older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) in rural communities have less access to cardiac specialty care. Telehealth offers a viable approach to provide cardiac care, yet little is known about patients' and providers' views on telehealth's potential to support rural patients with AF. This qualitative descriptive study examines patient and health providers' perspectives, an important first step in planning a telehealth initiative.

The Stressors and Coping Strategies of Older Adults With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Prior to and Following Direct Current Cardioversion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the stressors and coping strategies of older adults with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) before and after direct current cardioversion.

Method: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Sixteen patients were recruited through an AF clinic to participate in individual interviews prior to the cardioversion and at 6 and 12 weeks post procedure.