Patient perspectives of participating in the cardiac CopenHeartRFA rehabilitation program for patients treated with ablation for atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Purpose

The CopenHeartRFA trial was designed and conducted to explore the effects of rehabilitation on patients treated with ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). It included a cardiac rehabilitation program consisting of physical exercise and psychoeducational consultations over 6 months. As part of the evaluation of the CopenHeartRFA trial, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The intervention was delivered by a multidisciplinary team.

Aim

This study aimed to understand the experience of patients treated for AF with ablation who participated in the CopenHeartRFA cardiac rehabilitation program.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was used. A purposive sample of 10 patients who had completed the intervention consented to participate. The interviews were conducted face-to-face and were audio-recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analyses were used to analyze the data. The interviews were analyzed individually by two researchers and themes were constructed and discussed.

Results

The sample included 10 participants, mean age 54.6 years. Four categories were identified and labeled: 1) strengthening belief in one’s own physical capacity and survival; 2) still struggling with fear of AF symptoms; 3) a need for support to move on; and 4) regaining confidence in one’s own mental strength with support from professionals.

Conclusion

The four themes describe a positive experience from participating in the rehabilitation program. The rehabilitation program promoted self-efficacy for engaging in physical activity and the benefit of a safe environment for processing the emotional responses and the value of the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the rehabilitation provider.

Keywords:

• atrial fibrillation
• rehabilitation
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the patients who participated in the CopenHeart trial and especially to the 10 patients who contributed to these interviews. Thanks to Anne Alexandrine Øhlers for assisting with transcribing the interviews and technical help with setting up the manuscript. We would also like to thank Iman Hassan Abdullahi for helping in the analysis process and Signe Westh Christensen for assisting with the layout of the article and finally the entire CopenHeart team for designing and conducting the CopenHeartRFA trial.

This study was supported by the Danish Strategic Research Council (grant number 10-092790); The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet; Metropolitan University College; The Lundbeck Foundation (grant number FP 62/2011FP, 74/2012, 2014-3962); and the Health Foundation (grant number 15-B-0114), Denmark. The abstract of this paper was presented at the EuroHeartCare 2017 in Jonkoping as a poster presentation with interim findings.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.