Description
Host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, of the University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Adelaide, is joined by Andrea Robinson, MSN, ACNP, from Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth, and Jeroen ML Hendriks, PhD, RN, of Maastricht University Medical Centre, in this episode.
The AF-EduCare trial investigated whether targeted patient education (delivered in-person or online) could reduce unplanned cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study found that while education improved patient knowledge, medication adherence, and risk factor awareness, it did not significantly reduce cardiovascular hospitalizations, emergency visits, or mortality compared to standard care. However, subgroup analyses suggested that younger patients, those without heart failure, and asymptomatic AF patients might benefit more from in-person education. The findings highlight that while education enhances patient engagement, comprehensive medical management and timely clinical interventions remain the key drivers of improved cardiovascular outcomes in AF care.
Join us for this in-depth conversation about the trial.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate the impact of targeted patient education on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) management.
- Understand how structured educational interventions (in-person and online) influenced patient knowledge, medication adherence, and cardiovascular event rates compared to standard care.
- Analyze the role of patient education within integrated AF care and its limitations.
- Discuss why improved knowledge and adherence did not significantly reduce unplanned cardiovascular events, and explore potential factors such as patient subgroups, healthcare delivery settings, and the need for broader multidisciplinary interventions.
Article Authors and Podcast Contributors
Article Authors
Lien Desteghe, Michiel Delesie, Lieselotte Knaepen, Rana Önder, Johan Verbeeck, Paul Dendale, Thomas Phlips, Peter Haemers, Johan Saenen, Hein Heidbuchel
Podcast Contributors
Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Adelaide
Andrea Robinson, MSN, ACNP, Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth
Jeroen ML Hendriks, PhD, RN, Maastricht University Medical Centre
Faculty and Disclosures
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
Host Disclosure(s):
M. Middeldorp: Nothing to disclose.
Contributor Disclosure(s):
A. Robinson: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Medtronic, Inc., AtriCure, Inc., Biosense Webster, Inc.
J. Kendriks: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Biotronik
Staff Disclosure(s) (note: HRS staff are NOT in control of educational content. Disclosures are provided solely for full transparency to the learner):
S. Sailor: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
S. Colbert: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
ACE Statements
Accreditation Statement
The Heart Rhythm Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians AMA Designation Statement
The Heart Rhythm Society designates this internet-enduring activity for a maximum of .25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Statement
Successful completion of this ACE activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to .25 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of ACE credits claimed for the activity. It is the ACE activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada MOC Recognition Statement
Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “ACE in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.
Other Credit Available
A Credit Certificate (for physicians) or Certificate of Participation (for non-physicians) will be provided to individuals seeking credit from the following organizations which accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Note that participants are advised to contact their certifying body for specific information regarding credit submissions:
· American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) (for elective credit)
· American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
· American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
· American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
· American Osteopathic Association (AOA) (for Category 2 credit)
· Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (Canada)
· European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC)
· European CME Credits (ECMEC)
· German Chambers of Physicians
· National Society of Genetic Counselors (for Category 2 credit)
· Oman Medical Specialty Board
· Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners
· Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
Disclosure Policy
ACE Disclosure Policy
The Heart Rhythm Society is committed to the provision of Accredited Continuing Education (formerly known as Continuing Medical Education (CME)) that is balanced, objective, and evidence based. HRS adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) which require that those individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity (including, but not limited to, planners, faculty, authors, committee members, content reviewers, editors, and staff) disclose all financial relationships with an ACCME-defined ineligible company* within the 24 months prior to the disclosure.
Any individual who refuses to disclose financial relationships is disqualified from participating in HRS ACE-certified activities. Owners and employees of ACCME-defined ineligible companies may have no role in the planning or implementation of ACE activities without a special written exemption from the HRS Chief Learning Officer that will be granted only in specific circumstances that meet ACCME requirements.
ACCME Definition:
*An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Examples of such organizations include:
- Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
- Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
- Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
- Device manufacturers or distributors
- Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
- Growers, distributors, manufacturers or sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
- Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
- Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
- Pharmacy benefit managers
- Reagent manufacturers or sellers