Key result
Living with a family member who has atrial fibrillation significantly impacts daily life, forcing family members to reconstruct routines and causing fear and role conflicts.
Why the study?
Previous qualitative research on AF has primarily focused on the patient, but AF can also be burdensome for the patient's family.
Atrial fibrillation significantly impacts the daily lives and roles of patients' family members, highlighting a need for interventions to support families in managing the condition.
Alerts clinicians to AF family burden without practice change; leaves open interventional research on caregiver support.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Patients with AF often experience debilitating symptoms, stress and reduced health-related quality of life. Previous qualitative research on AF has primarily focused on the patient. AF, however, can also be burdensome for the patient's family. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore how family members experience life when a close member in the family has AF. METHOD: Transcribed focus group interviews were analysed using content analysis approach inspired by Graneheim and Lundman. RESULTS: Two focus group interviews were conducted with 11 family members. The overall theme was Dancing with AF. The theme emerged from three categories: 1) Handling AF as a living condition, 2) Influencing the roles of family members, 3) Fear of AF attack. AF had a very significant impact on the patients' family members, forcing them to reconstruct their daily lives. CONCLUSIONS: AF has multiple consequences for family members and can give rise to conflicts concerning family roles. Family members have a lack of knowledge of AF and fear of how AF can cause changes in the family members' everyday lives. This study demonstrates that there is a need for further research of ways to support the family members of patients with AF.
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Rosenstrøm et al. (2021) studied Family members of patients with Atrial Fibrillation (n=11). Living with a family member with atrial fibrillation was evaluated on Experiences of family members living with a close one who has AF. Living with a family member who has atrial fibrillation significantly impacts daily life, forcing family members to reconstruct routines and causing fear and role conflicts.
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