Feasibility Analysis of a Nurse-Led Empowerment-Based Care Model in Supporting Treatment Decision-Making and Self-Care Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) play a passive role in the treatment decision-making process, rendering suboptimal medication optimization and poor self-care. This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a nurse-led empowerment-based intervention among AF patients.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study comprised a pilot randomized controlled trial and an exploratory qualitative phase. AF patients who had moderate to high risk of stroke but not receiving oral anticoagulation were recruited. Participants (N = 40) were randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive the intervention or standard care. The 13-week intervention adopted a novel behavioral activation approach to equip AF patients as an active agent to manage the disease. It consisted of care components to prepare patients for shared decision-making by using a decision aid, an empowerment-based educational module covering relevant AF self-care topics and continuous support through telephone calls. Ten participants in the intervention group attended a qualitative interview to explore their engagement experience and perceived feasibility.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The intervention was highly feasible and participants gave excellent rating for the satisfaction survey. The overall attendance rate was 82.5%. Compared with the standard care group, the intervention group showed greater improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [β = -10.617, (95% CI = -20.350 - -0.885), p = 0.033] and AF knowledge [β = 1.950, (95% CI =1.026 - 2.874), p <0.001] at immediate post-intervention. The effects on both outcomes sustained at 6-month follow-up time point. No significant between-group changes in medication adherence, anxiety and depression were detected. Participants in the intervention group were activated to raise their concerns about AF and its treatment with the attending doctors. The qualitative data highlighted the uniqueness of the empowerment process of the intervention in improving their knowledge and self-care behaviors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The empowerment-based nurse-led intervention is highly feasible and acceptable for AF patients. It improved HRQoL, AF knowledge and treatment decision making in AF patients. It did not increase anxiety and depression.</p>