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Atrial Fibrillation Health Literacy and Information Technology Trial in Pittsburgh, PA (AFibLITT)

Primary Purpose

Atrial Fibrillation, Familial Atrial Fibrillation, Arrythmia, Cardiac

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Relational Agent and heart rate and rhythm monitor
Usual Care
Sponsored by
University of Pittsburgh
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional health services research trial for Atrial Fibrillation focused on measuring Quality of Life (QoL), Adherence, Health Literacy

Eligibility Criteria

21 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adult, age ≥21;
  2. Diagnosis of AF, identified from the EHR problem list and confirmed by 2 or more reports of AF from separate monitoring events at least 2 weeks apart (CG, Holter or event monitor);
  3. CHA2DS2-VASc (heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, prior stroke/TIA, CD, female sex)≥2;
  4. Prescribed use of warfarin or DOAC (formerly NOAC) for AF stroke prevention;
  5. English-speaking well enough to participate in informed consent and this study;
  6. No plans to relocate from the area within 12 months of enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Conditions other than AF that require anticoagulation, such as mechanical prosthetic valve, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism;
  2. History of pulmonary vein isolation or foreseen pulmonary vein isolation;
  3. History of AV nodal ablation or foreseen AV nodal ablation;
  4. Heart failure necessitating hospital admission ≤3 months prior to study inclusion;
  5. Acute coronary syndrome (defined as at least 2 of the following: chest pain, ischemic electrocardiographic changes, or troponin ≥0.1 ng/mL) ≤3 months prior to study inclusion;
  6. Untreated hyperthyroidism or ≤3 months euthyroidism before inclusion;
  7. Foreseen pacemaker, internal cardioverter defibrillator, or cardiac resynchronization therapy;
  8. Cardiac surgery ≤3 months before inclusion;
  9. Planned cardiac surgery;
  10. Presence of non-cardiovascular conditions likely to be fatal within 12 months (e.g., cancer);
  11. Inability to comprehend the study protocol, defined as failing to answer correctly a set of questions on orientation and short-term memory during the consent process.

Sites / Locations

  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Intervention arm

Usual care arm

Arm Description

Receive the relational agent coupled with the AliveCor Kardia heart rate and rhythm monitor for 120-day use.

Receive a brochure on atrial fibrillation, the WebMD app and the AliveCor Kardia heart rate and rhythm monitor for 120-day use.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Medication possession ratio
Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) is obtained from electronic prescription and pharmacy fill data for oral anticoagulation. MPR is calculated as a percentage (0 to 100%) accounting for days of prescription and date of fill. MPR quantification accounts for days of hospitalization, switching to an alternative anticoagulant agent, and prescribing changes during 12-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Self-reported adherence
A three-item instrument to ascertain self-reported non-adherence. Items are scored with a Likert scale from 0 ("None fo the time.") to 5 ("Every time."). The score is scaled as a continuous measure (0 to 15) and dichotomous categorization.
Change from baseline Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of life (AFEQT) at 4, 8 and 12 months
The AFEQT is a widely used measure of atrial fibrillation-specific health-related quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating superior health-related quality of life in AF. The AFEQT measure consists of a global score and 4 domains (symptoms, daily activities, treatment concerns, and treatment satisfaction). We prioritize the global score because of its specificity to AF, our experience with this measure in our preliminary and pilot studies, extensive validation, and ease of administration. The AFEQT subdomains (symptoms, daily activities, treatment concerns, and treatment satisfaction) constitute secondary outcomes.
Emergency room visits
The number of emergency room visits will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.
Urgent care visits
The number of urgent care visits will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.
Days of hospitalization
The number of days of hospitalization will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.

Full Information

First Posted
August 28, 2019
Last Updated
September 8, 2023
Sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Collaborators
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Northeastern University, Boston University
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT04075994
Brief Title
Atrial Fibrillation Health Literacy and Information Technology Trial in Pittsburgh, PA
Acronym
AFibLITT
Official Title
A Mobile Relational Agent to Enhance Atrial Fibrillation Self-care
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
September 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
January 2, 2020 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
April 11, 2023 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
August 1, 2023 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Collaborators
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Northeastern University, Boston University

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common, morbid condition with increasing prevalence. Poor health-related quality of life is common in AF. Patients experience debilitating symptoms and challenging adherence to long-term (possibly lifelong) anticoagulation. The increased risks of stroke, heart failure and mortality associated with AF persist even with optimal treatment. Morbidity in AF is further exacerbated by social factors. Limited health literacy carries challenges of learning a specialized terminology and navigating specialized treatments. In multiple cardiovascular diseases, self-care has demonstrated improvement in self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, symptom burden, and health care utilization - essential components of patient success with AF. Selfcare can provide the critical skills to navigate a challenging chronic disease and improve patient-centered outcomes. Delivery of self-care as a mobile health intervention can complement standard care with a longitudinal intervention to improve patient-centered strategies for AF. While self-care interventions for AF have focused foremost on self-monitoring of anticoagulation,self-care has demonstrated its potential to meet the "triple aim" of improved patient experience, reduced health care utilization, and lower costs.
Detailed Description
This is a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a smartphone-based intervention called a relational agent on health outcomes in people with atrial fibrillation. The study will enroll 240 patients who reside in Pittsburgh-area with this condition and will randomize them to the intervention or control. Intervention participants will receive a smartphone with the agent, which simulates conversation. In addition they will receive an AliveCor Kardia for heart rate and rhythm monitoring, an FDA-approved, widely used instrument that pairs with the smartphone. Control participants will receive a smartphone with WebMD, a brochure published by the AHA that describes AF, and an AliveCor Kardia. The intervention will last 4 months and participants will have visits at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 months. The study will evaluate the improvement in quality of life, medical adherence and health care utilization resulting from the intervention.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Atrial Fibrillation, Familial Atrial Fibrillation, Arrythmia, Cardiac, Heart Diseases, Pathologic Processes
Keywords
Quality of Life (QoL), Adherence, Health Literacy

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Health Services Research
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
243 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Intervention arm
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Receive the relational agent coupled with the AliveCor Kardia heart rate and rhythm monitor for 120-day use.
Arm Title
Usual care arm
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Receive a brochure on atrial fibrillation, the WebMD app and the AliveCor Kardia heart rate and rhythm monitor for 120-day use.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Relational Agent and heart rate and rhythm monitor
Intervention Description
Use of the Relational Agent and heart rate and rhythm monitor daily for 120 days.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Usual Care
Intervention Description
Use of the WebMD app and heart rate and rhythm monitor daily for 120 days.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Medication possession ratio
Description
Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) is obtained from electronic prescription and pharmacy fill data for oral anticoagulation. MPR is calculated as a percentage (0 to 100%) accounting for days of prescription and date of fill. MPR quantification accounts for days of hospitalization, switching to an alternative anticoagulant agent, and prescribing changes during 12-month follow-up.
Time Frame
12 months
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Self-reported adherence
Description
A three-item instrument to ascertain self-reported non-adherence. Items are scored with a Likert scale from 0 ("None fo the time.") to 5 ("Every time."). The score is scaled as a continuous measure (0 to 15) and dichotomous categorization.
Time Frame
Baseline, 4, 8 and 12 months
Title
Change from baseline Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of life (AFEQT) at 4, 8 and 12 months
Description
The AFEQT is a widely used measure of atrial fibrillation-specific health-related quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating superior health-related quality of life in AF. The AFEQT measure consists of a global score and 4 domains (symptoms, daily activities, treatment concerns, and treatment satisfaction). We prioritize the global score because of its specificity to AF, our experience with this measure in our preliminary and pilot studies, extensive validation, and ease of administration. The AFEQT subdomains (symptoms, daily activities, treatment concerns, and treatment satisfaction) constitute secondary outcomes.
Time Frame
Baseline, 4, 8 and 12 months
Title
Emergency room visits
Description
The number of emergency room visits will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.
Time Frame
4, 8 and 12 months
Title
Urgent care visits
Description
The number of urgent care visits will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.
Time Frame
4, 8 and 12 months
Title
Days of hospitalization
Description
The number of days of hospitalization will be quantified at 4, 8 and 12 months. These data will be used to compare health care utilization between the two study arms.
Time Frame
4, 8 and 12 months

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
21 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Adult, age ≥21; Diagnosis of AF, identified from the EHR problem list and confirmed by 2 or more reports of AF from separate monitoring events at least 2 weeks apart (CG, Holter or event monitor); CHA2DS2-VASc (heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, prior stroke/TIA, CD, female sex)≥2; Prescribed use of warfarin or DOAC (formerly NOAC) for AF stroke prevention; English-speaking well enough to participate in informed consent and this study; No plans to relocate from the area within 12 months of enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: Conditions other than AF that require anticoagulation, such as mechanical prosthetic valve, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism; History of pulmonary vein isolation or foreseen pulmonary vein isolation; History of AV nodal ablation or foreseen AV nodal ablation; Heart failure necessitating hospital admission ≤3 months prior to study inclusion; Acute coronary syndrome (defined as at least 2 of the following: chest pain, ischemic electrocardiographic changes, or troponin ≥0.1 ng/mL) ≤3 months prior to study inclusion; Untreated hyperthyroidism or ≤3 months euthyroidism before inclusion; Foreseen pacemaker, internal cardioverter defibrillator, or cardiac resynchronization therapy; Cardiac surgery ≤3 months before inclusion; Planned cardiac surgery; Presence of non-cardiovascular conditions likely to be fatal within 12 months (e.g., cancer); Inability to comprehend the study protocol, defined as failing to answer correctly a set of questions on orientation and short-term memory during the consent process.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Jared W Magnani, MD, MSc
Organizational Affiliation
University of Pittsburgh
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
City
Pittsburgh
State/Province
Pennsylvania
ZIP/Postal Code
15213
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Yes
IPD Sharing Plan Description
The study team will share individual participant data that underlie the results reported in the study's central manuscripts after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices).
IPD Sharing Time Frame
Such data will be available beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following publication of the main manuscripts resulting from this clinical trial.
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
Data will be made available to those investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose. Proposals may be submitted up to 36 months following article publication. Applicants requesting access to the data will be responsible for the minimal administrative costs to provide the data set.
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
36402276
Citation
Althouse AD, Abebe KZ, Paasche-Orlow MK, Lalama CM, Ferry D, Lancet M, Swabe G, Bickmore T, Magnani JW. Design, rationale, and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial evaluating a mobile relational agent to enhance atrial fibrillation self-care. Contemp Clin Trials. 2023 Jan;124:107015. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.107015. Epub 2022 Nov 17.
Results Reference
derived

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Atrial Fibrillation Health Literacy and Information Technology Trial in Pittsburgh, PA

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