Pharmacist management of atrial fibrillation in UK primary care: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke by a factor of five, leading a significant cost burdens on healthcare system. Pharmacists, especially those based in a primary care environment are well placed to support patients in this therapeutic area.

Objectives

To assess primary care pharmacists’ actual knowledge on the management of AF symptoms and anticoagulation. Furthermore, to investigate the resources used by pharmacists.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using survey was conducted, targeting UK-based registered pharmacists employed within primary care settings. Quantitative data were analysed utilising descriptive univariate and bivariate statistics.

Results

349 pharmacists completed the adapted 19-questions of the pharmacists’ knowledge. Out of a maximum of 19 points, the mean score was 14.34 ± 2.2 (75 ± 11.6%). The questionnaire revealed several significant gaps in pharmacists’ knowledge. Most of the surveyed pharmacists (62.8%) reported that they used sources of information to support their consultations. Half reported that they used the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance (52.4%) and the British National Formulary (BNF) (50.7%).

Conclusions

Primary care pharmacists are knowledgeable about AF and its management; however, some gaps exist which may require addressing. Although pharmacists use a variety of information resources, it is the traditional resources that remain the most frequently used.

KEYWORDS:

• Pharmacist
• management
• atrial fibrillation
• primary care
• general practice
• community pharmacy
• quantitative study

Acknowledgements

The main researcher would like to thank the ‘Funds for Women Graduates (FfWG)’ for providing the ‘Academic Award’ in 2020, London, United Kingdom.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by [Shahd Al-Arkee], [Julie Mason], [M Sayeed Haque] and [Abdullah Alshehri], [Zahraa Jalal]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [Shahd Al-Arkee] and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its Additional files]. Supplementary data related to this study can be found at Additional file 1.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Shahd Al-Arkee

Shahd Al-Arkee, PhD, Doctoral Researcher in Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Julie Mason

Julie Mason, PhD, Assistant Professor in Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

M. Sayeed Haque

M. Sayeed Haque, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abdullah Alshehri

Abdullah Alshehri, PhD, Assistant Professor in Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Zahraa Jalal

Zahraa Jalal, PhD, Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.