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Barriers to the use of anticoagulation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation : A representative survey of Australian family physicians
Gatellari, Melina Worthington, John Zwar, Nicholas Middleton, Sandy
Gatellari, Melina
Worthington, John
Zwar, Nicholas
Middleton, Sandy
Abstract
Background and Purpose— Anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation yet remains underused. We explored barriers to the use of anticoagulants among Australian family physicians.
Methods— The authors conducted a representative, national survey.
Results— Of the 596 (64.4%) eligible family physicians who participated, 15.8% reported having a patient with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation experience an intracranial hemorrhage with anticoagulation and 45.8% had a patient with known nonvalvular atrial fibrillation experience a stroke without anticoagulation. When presented with a patient at “very high risk” of stroke, only 45.6% of family physicians selected warfarin in the presence of a minor falls risk and 17.1% would anticoagulate if the patient had a treated peptic ulcer. Family physicians with less decisional conflict and longer-standing practices were more likely to endorse anticoagulation.
Conclusion— Strategies to optimize the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation should address psychological barriers to using anticoagulation.
Keywords
atrial fibrillation, clinical practice, primary health care
Date
2008
Type
Journal article
Journal
Stroke
Book
Volume
39
Issue
1
Page Range
227-230
Article Number
ACU Department
Nursing Research Institute
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled