Effect of a virtual self‐management intervention for atrial fibrillation during the outbreak of COVID‐19

Rosman, Lindsey; Armbruster, Tiffany; Kyazimzade, Sayyad; Tugaoen, Zachary; Mazzella, Anthony J.; Deyo, Zack; Walker, Jennifer; Machineni, Sriram; Gehi, Anil

BACKGROUND: As the pandemic continues to unfold, effective, technology‐based solutions are needed to help patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) maintain their health and well‐being during the outbreak of COVID‐19. METHODS: This single‐center, pilot study investigated the effects of a 4‐week (eight sessions) virtual AF self‐management program. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and 1 week after the intervention, and assessed AF knowledge, adherence to self‐management behaviors, mental health, physical function, and disease‐specific quality of life in patients with AF. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of COVID‐19, intervention, acceptability, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Of 68 patients who completed baseline questionnaires, 57 participated in the intervention and were included in the analysis (mean age of 73.4 ± 10.0 years, 60% male). Adherence to AF self‐monitoring behaviors, including monitoring their heart rate (p < .001), heart rhythm (p = .003), and blood pressure (p = .013) were significantly improved at the end of the intervention compared with baseline. Symptom identification (p = .007) and management (p < .001) also improved. Reductions in sleep disturbance (p < .001), anxiety (p = .014), and depression (p = .046) were also observed. Misinformation and inaccurate beliefs about COVID‐19 were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that a virtual patient education program could have beneficial effects on adherence to guideline‐recommend self‐care of AF, emotional wellbeing, physical function, and knowledge of COVID‐19 in patients with AF. Future randomized studies in larger samples are needed to determine the clinical benefits of the intervention.