The effects of preventive counseling with remote support via e-mail on illness perception in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation

Type of funding sources: None.

Illness perception (IP) affects health behaviors and coping strategies in chronic diseases, but our knowledge about IP in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (pts) after catheter ablation (CA) is limited.

To assess the impact of preventive counseling on IP in pts after AF catheter ablation.

A prospective randomized controlled study with 2 parallel groups of pts with paroxysmal AF after CA (radiofrequency or cryoablation).  Pts were randomized (1:1) into 2 groups. Before discharge, both groups received 1 preventive counseling session with focus on their individual risk factors profile. After discharge pts from intervention group received 6 sessions of biweekly remote preventive counseling via e-mail over the first 3 months. Control group received usual care. IP was assessed using The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months.

A total of 90 pts aged 35 to 80 years were enrolled (mean age, 57.4 ± 9.9 years, men, 52.2%). The groups were well balanced according to demographic and clinical features. At 6 and 12 months of follow-up there was a significant improvement of the overall IP score in the intervention group vs control (table). 

Preventive counseling with remote support via e-mail improves IP in AF pts after CA which may contribute to better long term outcomes.