NCT03126214

Improving Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Through Pharmacist Prescribing

Improving Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Through Pharmacist Prescribing: Program for the Identification of 'Actionable' AF (PIAAF) Rx Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 79 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Alberta · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of prescribing oral anticoagulation therapy by pharmacist intervention compared to enhanced usual care in participants with unrecognized AF and/or known AF but not taking blood thinners.

Detailed description

Background: AF is the most common arrhythmia and the leading cause of stroke. Despite robust evidence oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy is effective and safe for stroke prevention in patients with AF; there is a lack of real-world application. Alternative strategies to deliver stroke prevention therapy need to be explored. Although pharmacists' prescribing of antihypertensive and lipid lowering drug therapy has been shown to increase adherence to guideline-based targets and warfarin management improve control of international normalized ratios in anticoagulation clinics, the role of pharmacist initiation of OAC therapy compared to usual care in AF patients for stroke prevention in a community setting is unclear. In this study, the investigators will screen participants presenting to community pharmacies to identify participants with unrecognized AF and/or known AF but not taking blood thinners or not on optimal OAC therapy and randomize care to either the pharmacist or enhanced usual care (family physician notification by pharmacist).

Conditions

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Anticoagulants	Anticoagulant therapy will be initiated/titrated in patients with atrial fibrillation in accordance with the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for Atrial Fibrillation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-02-01
• Primary completion: 2022-07-01
• Completion: 2023-12-01
• First posted: 2017-04-24
• Last updated: 2024-01-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada