ArticleBJGP open2020
Pharmacists detecting atrial fibrillation in general practice: a qualitative focus group study.
Article in BJGP open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Key stakeholder views on atrial fibrillation screening: a systematic mixed-studies review and interpretive analysis.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2026Pooled it
- Factors Influencing the Uptake of Digital Health Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among Healthcare Providers: A Systematic Review.Global heart · 2026Pooled it
- Exploring pharmacist prescribing practices in general practices for atrial fibrillation in England: a qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
- The NHS and the pharmaceutical industry: High risk of harmful interactions.Future healthcare journal · 2025Article
- How Can Podiatrists and Other Health Care Professionals Support the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation?Journal of foot and ankle research · 2025Article
- Service delivery and the role of clinical pharmacists in UK primary care for older people, including people with dementia: a scoping review.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- Healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of primary healthcare integration: a scoping review of qualitative evidence.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Article
- Healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of primary healthcare integration: a scoping review of qualitative evidence.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) affects up to 10% of people aged ≥65 years, yet a third of all cases remain undetected. Practice-based pharmacists are in an ideal position to facilitate opportunistic AF screening, while increasing general practice capacity at a time of workforce crisis.
aimTo explore the perspectives of three stakeholder groups involved in the 'Pharmacists Detecting Atrial Fibrillation' (PDAF) study to elucidate the facilitators and barriers to pharmacist-led AF screening in general practice. DESIGN &
settingA qualitative study took place, comprising homogeneous focus groups with stakeholders in Kent, UK.
methodThe stakeholder groups - patients, general practice staff (GPS), and clinical pharmacists (CPs) - were recruited using convenience sampling. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a deductive Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) approach.
resultsTwenty-five patients, four pharmacists, and nine practice staff participated in six focus groups. Three main themes were identified: knowledge and awareness; prioritisation of resources; and environmental considerations. The public's lack of awareness of AF-related risks and pharmacist-led screening services was highlighted. Practice-based pharmacists were perceived as an underutilised educational resource which, together with novel electrocardiogram devices, enabled convenient access to screening while reducing GPs' workload. Participants agreed that AF screening should be incorporated into personalised health checks and at-risk groups should be prioritised, such as care home residents. Patients favoured the general practice environment over the community pharmacy where concerns of privacy, staffing, and commercialisation were raised.
conclusionThe findings of this study support the introduction of pharmacist-led AF screening programmes in general practice surgeries. Commissioners should consider the added value of utilising CPs and focus on the delivery of AF screening within an integrated service.
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