Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32587643›Full record

ArticlePharmacy practice

Prescribers' perceptions of benefits and limitations of direct acting oral anticoagulants in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Daria Generalova, Scott Cunningham, Stephen J Leslie, Gordon F Rushworth, Laura Mciver, Derek Stewart

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmacy practice. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 39% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Daria GeneralovaMSc. School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University. Aberdeen (United Kingdom). d.generalova@rgu.ac.uk.
Scott CunninghamPhD. School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University. Aberdeen (United Kingdom). s.cunningham@rgu.ac.uk.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9655-2245
Stephen J LesliePhD. Department of Medicine, Raigmore Hospital. Inverness (United Kingdom). stephen.leslie@nhs.net.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1403-4733
Gordon F RushworthMSc. Highland Pharmacy Education and Research Centre, Centre for Health Science. Inverness (United Kingdom). gordon.rushworth@nhs.net.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6085-6044
Laura MciverMSc. Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Glasgow (United Kingdom). laura.mciver@nhs.net.
Derek StewartPhD. College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University. Doha (Qatar). d.stewart@qu.edu.qa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7360-8592
Department of Physics, Mathematics and Informatics · BYHealthcare Improvement Scotland · GBNHS Highland · GBRaigmore Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is an acknowledged lack of robust and rigorous research focusing on the perspectives of those prescribing direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

objectiveThe objective was to describe prescribers' experiences of using DOACs in the management of non-valvular AF, including perceptions of benefits and limitations.

methodsA cross-sectional survey of prescribers in a remote and rural area of Scotland. Among other items, the questionnaire invited free-text description of positive and negative experiences of DOACs, and benefits and limitations. Responses were independently analysed by two researchers using a summative content analysis approach. This involved counting and comparison, via keywords and content, followed by interpretation and coding of the underlying context into themes.

resultsOne hundred and fifty-four responses were received, 120 (77.9%) from physicians, 18 (11.7%) from nurse prescribers and 10 (6.4%) from pharmacist prescribers (6 unidentified professions). Not having to monitor INR was the most cited benefit, particularly for prescribers and patients in remote and rural settings, followed by potentially improved patient adherence. These benefits were reflected in respondents' descriptions of positive experiences and patient feedback. The main limitations were the lack of reversal agents, cost and inability to monitor anticoagulation status. Many described their experiences of adverse effects of DOACs including fatal and non-fatal bleeding, and upper gastrointestinal disturbances.

conclusionsWhile prescribers have positive experiences and perceive benefits of DOACs, issues such as adverse effects and inability to monitor anticoagulation status merit further monitoring and investigation. These issues are particularly relevant given the trajectory of increased prescribing of DOACs.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesDrug PrescriptionsFactor Xa InhibitorsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeScotland

Identifiers

PMID32587643
PMCPMC7308911
OpenAlexW3035743552

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.