Assessment tools for quality of life and disease knowledge in patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in the elderly and is associated with increased rates of ischemic stroke and thromboembolism. Many studies suggest that the majority of patients are unable to recognize the symptoms and are unaware of atrial fibrillation as a medical condition prior to diagnosis. Structured, coherent and individualized patient education is of paramount importance for the effectiveness, safety and compliance with treatment and especially with anticoagulation. Furthermore, in the context of optimizing patient care, the guidelines focus on integrated management of AF based on patient participation in treatment decisions, multidisciplinary team approach, support through technological tools and patient access to all therapeutics options, making the need of understanding and education on the disease important components. Reliable tools have been developed to assess patients' knowledge and beliefs about the disease and their compliance with treatment instructions and especially with anticoagulation. These tools are especially useful for identifying areas where patients may need additional support or intervention and for tracking changes in quality of life over time. In addition, incorporating these questionnaires into daily practice can promote patient participation, shared decision-making, and improved communication between healthcare providers and their patients.