Patient Preference and Adherence (May 2021)
Patient Perspectives on Factors Affecting Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation
Abstract
Kristina Medlinskiene,1,2 Susan Richardson,3 Beth Fylan,1,4,5 Katherine Stirling,2 Marcus Rattray,1,4 Duncan Petty1 1Medicine Optimisation Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK; 2Medicine Management and Pharmacy Services, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK; 3Department of Management, Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK; 4Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK; 5Bradford Institute for Health Research, NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UKCorrespondence: Kristina Medlinskiene Email [email protected]: Oral anticoagulant therapy choices for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) expanded in the last decade with the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). However, the implementation of DOACs was slow and varied across different health economies in England. There is limited evidence on the patient role in the uptake of new medicines, including DOACs, apart from considering their demographic and clinical characteristics. Hence, this study aimed to address the gap by exploring the view of patients with AF on factors affecting DOAC use.Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted in three health economies in the North of England. Adult patients (> 18 years) diagnosed with non-valvular AF, prescribed an oral anticoagulant (vitamin K antagonist or DOAC), and able to give written consent were recruited. Data were collected between August 2018 and April 2019. Audio recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the framework method.Results: Four themes with eleven subthemes discussed identified factors affecting the use of DOACs. They were linked to limited healthcare financial and workforce resources, patient involvement in decision-making, patient knowledge about DOACs, safety concerns about oral anticoagulants, and oral anticoagulant therapy impact on patients’ daily lives. Lack of a) opportunities to voice patient preferences and b) information on available therapy options resulted in some patients experiencing difficulties with the prescribed therapy. This was reported to cause negative impact on their daily lives, adherence, and overall satisfaction with the therapy.Conclusion: Greater patient involvement in decision-making could prevent and resolve difficulties encountered by some patients and potentially improve outcomes plus increase the uptake of DOACs.Keywords: uptake, new medicines, shared decision making, direct oral anticoagulants, DOACs, warfarin
