“Anticoagulation Choice Decision Aid” for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

The effectiveness of shared decision-making (SDM) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are at high risk for stroke and who are considering anticoagulation therapy is unclear. An Anticoagulation Choice Decision Aid tool is available that is designed to facilitate SDM for such patients. In this randomized trial, researchers assessed various measures of this tool's effectiveness.

Study participants were 244 clinicians plus 922 adult patients (mean age, 71) with nonvalvular AF who were at high risk for thromboembolic events (CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥1 for men or ≥2 for women) and who were starting or reviewing anticoagulant therapy. Participants were randomized to usual care or to usual care plus the SDM tool.

A significantly higher proporti…