A pilot study of a digital education program (INFORM-AF) for patients living with atrial fibrillation

Ferguson, C; Shaikh, F; Downie, A; Wilson, T; Griffin, K; Allida, SM; Hickman, LD; Bajorek, BV; Wynne, R

A pilot study of a digital education program (INFORM-AF) for patients living with atrial fibrillation

Ferguson, C

Shaikh, F Downie, A Wilson, T Griffin, K Allida, SM Hickman, LD Bajorek, BV Wynne, R

Permalink

Publisher:: SPRINGERNATURE
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC DIGITAL HEALTH, 2024, 2, (1)
Issue Date:: 2024-12-05

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (1.31 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ferguson, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2417-2216
dc.contributor.author	Shaikh, F
dc.contributor.author	Downie, A
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, T
dc.contributor.author	Griffin, K
dc.contributor.author	Allida, SM
dc.contributor.author	Hickman, LD
dc.contributor.author	Bajorek, BV
dc.contributor.author	Wynne, R
dc.date.accessioned	2025-06-11T19:57:23Z
dc.date.available	2025-06-11T19:57:23Z
dc.date.issued	2024-12-05
dc.identifier.citation	BMC DIGITAL HEALTH, 2024, 2, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	2731-684X
dc.identifier.issn	2731-684X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/187694
dc.description.abstract	BackgroundThere are many unmet educational needs for people living with atrial fibrillation (AF). Digital health offers promise; however, evidence is largely lacking. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the system usability, feasibility, and efficacy of a digital education program (INFORM-AF) for patients living with atrial fibrillation on AF-related knowledge and quality of life.MethodsA pilot study was conducted. Patients diagnosed with AF were recruited from two metropolitan hospitals in Blacktown and Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia, following index hospitalisation. The INFORM-AF education program was delivered using the QStream™ digital platform directly to participants’ smartphones over 6 weeks. Outcome measures included AF knowledge (JAKQ), AF quality of life (AFEQT) and system usability (SUS). Surveys were completed in-hospital at baseline and via phone at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.ResultsThirty-two participants were enrolled, 2 were lost to follow up and 2 withdrew. 28 were included in the analyses. Mean age was 60 years (32–79 years), 56% female. There were significant improvements in AF knowledge (62% pre vs 73% post, p < 0.001) and AF quality of life at 6 weeks (53.7 ± 22.4 pre and 67.9 ± 25.5 post, p = 0.016) Knowledge improvements were the greatest in the risk factor, symptom recognition, and when to seek assistance domains. System usability was excellent (mean 84 SUS score).ConclusionsThe INFORM-AF education program demonstrated system usability and feasibility with improvements in AF knowledge and quality of life at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. INFORM-AF will be evaluated in a larger clinical trial on outcomes including emergency department visits, hospitalisation, and healthcare utilisation.Trial registrationhttps://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=381531.Date registered 15/04/2021.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	SPRINGERNATURE
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC DIGITAL HEALTH
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s44247-024-00137-1
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	A pilot study of a digital education program (INFORM-AF) for patients living with atrial fibrillation
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/INSIGHT: Institute for Innovative Solutions for Wellbeing and Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-06-11T19:57:21Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	2
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BackgroundThere are many unmet educational needs for people living with atrial fibrillation (AF). Digital health offers promise; however, evidence is largely lacking. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the system usability, feasibility, and efficacy of a digital education program (INFORM-AF) for patients living with atrial fibrillation on AF-related knowledge and quality of life.MethodsA pilot study was conducted. Patients diagnosed with AF were recruited from two metropolitan hospitals in Blacktown and Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia, following index hospitalisation. The INFORM-AF education program was delivered using the QStream™ digital platform directly to participants’ smartphones over 6 weeks. Outcome measures included AF knowledge (JAKQ), AF quality of life (AFEQT) and system usability (SUS). Surveys were completed in-hospital at baseline and via phone at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.ResultsThirty-two participants were enrolled, 2 were lost to follow up and 2 withdrew. 28 were included in the analyses. Mean age was 60 years (32–79 years), 56% female. There were significant improvements in AF knowledge (62% pre vs 73% post, p < 0.001) and AF quality of life at 6 weeks (53.7 ± 22.4 pre and 67.9 ± 25.5 post, p = 0.016) Knowledge improvements were the greatest in the risk factor, symptom recognition, and when to seek assistance domains. System usability was excellent (mean 84 SUS score).ConclusionsThe INFORM-AF education program demonstrated system usability and feasibility with improvements in AF knowledge and quality of life at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. INFORM-AF will be evaluated in a larger clinical trial on outcomes including emergency department visits, hospitalisation, and healthcare utilisation.Trial registrationhttps://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=381531.Date registered 15/04/2021.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/187694