Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39414304›Full record

Trial reportBMJ open2024

Implementing a remote self-screening programme for atrial fibrillation using digital health technology among community-dwellers aged 75 years and older: a qualitative evaluation.

Kam Cheong Wong, Tu N Nguyen, Steven A Trankle, Tim Usherwood, Desi Quintans, Simone Marschner, Samual Turnbull, Anupama Balasuriya Indrawansa, Rose White, Mason Jenner Burns and 4 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. 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 · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. 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

14 authors.

Kam Cheong WongWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia kam.wong@sydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1898-7678
Tu N NguyenWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Steven A TrankleSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Tim UsherwoodWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7522-0345
Desi QuintansWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Simone MarschnerWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5484-9144
Samual TurnbullWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Anupama Balasuriya IndrawansaWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Rose WhiteWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Mason Jenner BurnsWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Vishal GopalWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Richard I LindleyWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0104-5679
Saurabh KumarWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Clara K ChowWestmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the feasibility of implementing remote atrial fibrillation (AF) self-screening among older people supported by a remote central monitoring system.

designProcess evaluation of the Mass AF randomised clinical trial (ACTRN12621000184875) with one-to-one semistructured interviews using interview guides underpinned by the Critical Realism approach and coded using the UK Medical Research Council Guidance of Process Evaluation Framework. SETTING AND

participantsCommunity-dwelling people aged ≥75 years from both genders (ratio 1:1) and urban/rural (ratio 2:1) in Australia.

interventionsParticipants were provided handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) devices and trained to self-record ECGs once daily on weekdays for at least 6 months. A remote central team notified participants and general practitioners (GPs) of AF. PRIMARY FEASIBILITY OUTCOMES: The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis examined enablers (ie, strengths and opportunities) and barriers (ie, weaknesses and threats).

resultsOverall, 200 participants; 98.5% completed the 6-month programme, 96% reported being satisfied with screening and 48 were interviewed: mean age 79 years, 54% male and 71% urban. 11 GPs were interviewed: 55% female and 64% urban. Programme participants trusted the remote monitoring system that supported the screening programme and provided follow-up pathways where required. GPs saw opportunities to introduce this self-screening programme to at-risk patients and improve patients' risk profiles. Programme participants reported that after being trained to use the device, they felt empowered to do self-screening and found it convenient. GPs saw empowerment could enhance the doctor-patient relationship. Participants and GPs valued screening in diagnosing AF that would otherwise be missed in usual care, but the uncertainty of effective screening duration could be a barrier.

conclusionsThis screening programme was feasible with the reinforcement of the underpinning enablers. Several implementation strategies were identified using SWOT analysis, including leveraging the opportunity for GPs to introduce this screening programme to at-risk patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12621000184875.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationFeasibility StudiesMass ScreeningAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaDigital HealthElectrocardiographyFemaleHumansIndependent LivingMaleQualitative ResearchSelf-TestingTelemedicinecardiologyfeasibility studiesqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID39414304
PMCPMC11487844

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.