Feasibility and acceptability of opportunistic screening to detect atrial fibrillation in Aboriginal adults

• Published in: Australian and New Zealand journal of public health Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 313 - 318
• Main Authors: Macniven, Rona, Gwynn, Josephine, Fujimoto, Hiroko, Hamilton, Sandy, Thompson, Sandra C., Taylor, Kerry, Lawrence, Monica, Finlayson, Heather, Bolton, Graham, Dulvari, Norman, Wright, Daryl C., Rambaldini, Boe, Freedman, Ben, Gwynne, Kylie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier B.V 01.08.2019; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acceptability; Adult; Adults; Atrial Fibrillation - diagnosis; Australia; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cell Phone; Community; Consent; Data collection; EKG; Electrocardiography; Electrocardiography - instrumentation; Electrocardiography - methods; Feasibility; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fibrillation; Health promotion; Humans; indigenous health; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Medical research; Mobile Applications; Mortality; Native peoples; Oceanic Ancestry Group; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patients; Primary Health Care; Public health; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative Research; Questions; Referrals; Research methodology; rural and remote health; Rural areas; Rural communities; Rural Health; Rural Population; Screening; Software; Studies; Urban Population; Australia; Western Australia Australia; New South Wales Australia; rural and remote health; primary health care; screening; indigenous health
• ISSN: 1326-0200; 1753-6405
• DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12905

Examine the feasibility and acceptability of an electrocardiogram (ECG) attached to a mobile phone (iECG) screening device for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services (ACCHS) and other community settings. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ACCHS staff in urban, rural and remote communities in three Australian states/territories. Quantitative and qualitative questions identified the enabling factors and barriers for staff and Aboriginal patients' receptiveness to the device. Mean quantitative scores and their standard deviation were calculated in Microsoft Excel and qualitative questions were thematically analysed. Eighteen interviews were conducted with 23 staff across 11 ACCHS. Quantitative data found staff were confident in providing iECG screening and managing the referral pathway, and thought the process was beneficial for patients. Qualitative data highlighted the usefulness of the device to undertake opportunistic screening and acceptability in routine practice, and provided opportunities to engage patients in education around AF. The iECG device was well accepted within ACCHSs and was feasible to use to screen for AF among Aboriginal patients. The device can be used in clinical and community settings to screen Aboriginal people for atrial fibrillation to help reduce rates of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.